Distinct biomarkers found in gum disease patients

Patients with periodontitis may have distinct blood protein profiles, with changes in specific proteins and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). This research was published in the Journal of Dental Research.

The discovery of these altered blood biomarkers may pave the way for the development of drugs that may slow the progression of severe gum disease, the authors wrote.

"A distinguishable serum protein profile was evident in periodontitis cases," wrote the authors, led by M. Wänman of the Umeå University Department of Odontology in Sweden (J Dent Res, August 5, 2024, Vol. 103:10, pp. 999-1007).

The purpose of the study was to identify inflammation-related proteins linked to periodontitis in the PerioGene North case-control study, which included 987 participants from clinics in northern Sweden. A total of 478 participants had severe periodontitis, while 509 were periodontally healthy.

All participants received a thorough oral and periodontal examination, which included measuring bleeding on probing and periodontal probing depth at six points around each tooth using a PCP-12 dental probe. Blood samples were analyzed to assess the levels of 45 inflammation-related proteins and hs-CRP, according to the study.

The results showed that 24 proteins, including hs-CRP, epidermal growth factor (EGF), oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor 1 (OLR-1), and proteolytic matrix metalloproteinase 12 (MMP-12), had significantly different levels between periodontitis patients and healthy controls.

Patients with periodontitis had higher levels of hs-CRP and MMP-12 and lower levels of EGF and OLR-1. These proteins could distinguish periodontitis cases from controls with good accuracy. For example, hs-CRP levels were 1.51 times higher in cases and EGF levels were 3.85 times lower.

Additionally, specific proteins, such as C-C motif chemokine ligand 19 and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor 3 (CSF-3), were linked to higher gingival inflammation, while others, like CSF-3 and tumor necrosis factor ligand superfamily member 10, were associated with deeper periodontal pockets. However, no protein differences were found based on the degree of bone loss, according to the results.

However, the study had limitations. The study's design focused on genetics, so the control and case groups were not age-matched, which may explain why no link was found between periodontitis and related comorbidities after adjusting for confounders, the authors wrote.

"We present high levels of MMP-12 and low levels of EGF and OLR-1 as interesting candidates that should be further validated in additional cohorts for potential to serve as biomarkers for severe periodontitis," they concluded.