Expression of Vascular Adhesion Protein-1 and Thrombospondin-1 in Gingival Crevicular Fluid of Patients with Periodontitis and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Abstract

Allma Pitru,1 Dorin Nicolae Gheorghe,2 Dora Maria Popescu,2 Flavia Mirela Nicolae,2 Mihail Virgil Boldeanu,3 Adina Turcu-Stiolica,4 Cristian Cosmin Arsenie,5 Petra Surlin,2 Sergiu Marian Cazacu,6 Ion Rogoveanu6 1Oral Pathology Department, Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Craiova, 200349, Romania; 2Department of Periodontology, Research Center of Periodontal-Systemic Interactions, Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Craiova, 200349, Romania; 3Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Craiova, 200349, Romania; 4Department of Pharmacoeconomics and Statistical Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Craiova, 200349, Romania; 5Doctoral School, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Craiova, 200349, Romania; 6Department of Gastroenterology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Craiova, 200349, RomaniaCorrespondence: Petra Surlin, Department of Periodontology, Research Center of Periodontal-Systemic Interactions, Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Craiova, 200349, Romania, Email [email protected] Sergiu Marian Cazacu, Department of Gastroenterology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Craiova, 200349, Romania, Email [email protected]: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) represents a heterogeneous spectrum of liver diseases that encompass simple steatosis, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis. Periodontitis is a chronic infectious disease with multiple causal factors that presents a complex interaction between the microbial biofilm and the host’s immune response. The aim of this study was to investigate the concentrations of Vascular Adhesion Protein-1 (VAP-1) and Thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) in patients with coexisting periodontitis and NAFLD.Patients and Methods: This study included 48 patients, who were dental and periodontal assessed. Of these patients, 25 were diagnosed with NAFLD. After performing the periodontal clinical examination, gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) samples were collected. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) dedicated kits tests were used for the detection and quantitative determination of VAP-1 and TSP-1 in GCF samples. Statistical methods were applied for the comparison and correlation of data.Results: VAP-1 and TSP-1 levels showed significant differences between all test and control groups (p< 0.0001). Statistically significant correlations (p< 0.05) between VAP-1 and periodontal and liver parameters were found in patients with NAFLD and periodontitis.Conclusion: Periodontal inflammation is more marked in patients with periodontitis-NAFLD association. Vascular adhesion and angiogenesis could be affected in patients with periodontitis and NAFLD. These findings could suggest that addressing periodontal inflammation in individuals with the periodontitis-NAFLD association may have a broader impact on vascular adhesion and angiogenesis, highlighting the interplay between oral health and liver conditions for comprehensive patient care.Keywords: non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, periodontitis, VAP-1, TSP-1, gingival crevicular fluid, periodontal disease

Keywords

• non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
• periodontitis
• vap-1
• tsp-1
• gingival crevicular fluid
• periodontal disease.