The potential role of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETS) in periodontal disease—A scanning electron microscopy (SEM) study

Abstract

Background: Oral biofilms are the major etiological agents of periodontal pathologies. Neutrophils are the first line of defense in fighting the pathogens in the biofilm. One of the mechanisms by which they operate is neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), which are a novel mechanism of defense in the presence of pathogenic plaque. The present study was carried out to investigate their role in periodontal disease. Methodology: Following institutional ethical committee approval, ten gingival (biopsy) samples from individuals with periodontitis were collected during periodontal flap surgery and processed and examined under scanning electron microscope (SEM). Results: SEM examination revealed that the excised gingival tissues displayed an intricate meshwork of NETs. Conclusion: NETs may be one of the means of defense against periodontal infections, although further research is necessary to understand the exact nature of their role.

Keywords

• plaque
• neutrophils
• nets
• gingival biopsy
• periodontitis