Salivary Biomarkers of Oral Inflammation Are Associated With Cardiovascular Events and Death Among Kidney Transplant Patients

• Published in: Transplantation proceedings 2020-12, Vol.52 (10), p.3231-3235
• Main Authors: Ortiz, Fernanda, Nylund, Karita M., Ruokonen, Hellevi, Meurman, Jukka H., Furuholm, Jussi, Bostanci, Nagihan, Sorsa, Timo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Biomarkers - metabolism; Cardiovascular Diseases - metabolism; Cardiovascular Diseases - mortality; Female; Humans; Inflammation - complications; Inflammation - metabolism; Kidney Transplantation - adverse effects; Kidney Transplantation - mortality; Male; Middle Aged; Periodontitis - complications; Periodontitis - metabolism; Saliva - chemistry; Triggering Receptor Expressed on Myeloid Cells-1 - analysis; Triggering Receptor Expressed on Myeloid Cells-1 - metabolism
• ISSN: 0041-1345; 1873-2623
• DOI: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2020.07.007

Triggering receptors expressed on myeloid cells (TREMs) and their ligand, peptidoglycan recognition protein 1 (PGLYRP-1), have been detected in secretions from patients with inflammatory diseases, which may lead to the formation of atherosclerotic plaques. Here, we aimed to analyze the association between salivary concentrations of soluble (s)TREM-1 and PGLYRP-1 with death and cardiovascular disease before and after kidney transplantation. Saliva samples from 53 patients on dialysis were collected during their regular dental evaluation before treatment and after kidney transplantation. Oral inflammatory burden was assessed from panoramic radiographs and full-mouth dental examination. Demographic data, graft function, patient survival, and history of major cardiovascular events (MACEs) were retrieved from hospital records. Salivary sTREM-1 before transplantation increased the odds for death and MACE. In addition, PGLYRP-1 increased the odds for MACE before transplantation. After transplantation, neither salivary sTREM-1 nor PGLYRP-1 increased the odds for death or MACE, probably because of the previous eradication of oral inflammatory foci. None of the studied biomarkers correlated with kidney transplant function. Salivary sTREM-1 and PGLYRP-1 before transplantation were associated with MACE and death. The utility of salivary proinflammatory biomarkers for risk stratification in kidney transplant candidates requires further investigation. •Low-grade systemic inflammation has been related to adverse cardiovascular outcomes.•Soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloids (sTREM1) rises with inflammation.•Salivary biomarkers could identify patients at risk for cardiovascular disease.•High salivary sTREM1 pre-transplant is associated with death and cardiovascular events.•Salivary sTREM might be a useful noninvasive biomarker of cardiovascular outcomes.