Effects of periodontitis and periodontal treatment on systemic inflammatory markers and metabolic profile in obese and non‐obese rats

• Published in: Journal of periodontology (1970) 2022-09, Vol.93 (9), p.1411-1420
• Main Authors: Pereira, Karina Kimiko Yamashina, Jara, Cynthia Mireya, Antunes, Géssica Luana, Gomes, Maximiliano Schünke, Rösing, Cassiano Kuchenbecker, Cavagni, Juliano, Haas, Alex Nogueira
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: inflammation; obesity; periodontitis; rats; scaling and root planing
• ISSN: 0022-3492; 1943-3670
• DOI: 10.1002/JPER.21-0575

Background Little is known about a synergistic effect of periodontitis and obesity on systemic biomarkers and a possible effect periodontal treatment may exert. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of periodontitis and periodontal treatment on systemic inflammation and metabolic profile in obese and non‐obese rats. Methods Sixty male Wistar rats were randomly divided in six groups differentiated by diet and periodontal status: no periodontitis (G1 and G4), untreated ligature‐induced periodontitis (G2 and G5), and treated ligature‐induced periodontitis (G3 and G6). Groups G4, G5, and G6 were exposed to cafeteria diet to induce obesity. Periodontitis was induced by silk ligatures over 4 weeks (G2, G3, G5, and G6). Rats in G3 and G6 received scaling and root planing and were followed for additional 4 weeks. After sacrifice, serum levels of C‐reactive protein (CRP), interleukin (IL)‐1β, IL‐6, IL‐10, IL‐17a, tumor necrosis factor alfa (TNF‐α), glucose, triglycerides, and total cholesterol (TC) were compared between groups. Results CRP was significantly higher in obese rats with than without periodontitis (G5 = 10.15 versus G4 = 4.47 μg/L, P = 0.01). No beneficial effects of periodontal treatment were observed for CRP levels, IL‐6, IL‐1β, IL‐17a, and TNF‐α, glucose and triglycerides. Treated periodontitis (G6) exhibited significantly lower TC than the periodontitis group (G5) in obese rats. Conclusion Periodontitis increased serum CRP in obese rats, indicating a synergistic role of periodontitis in the systemic inflammatory burden triggered by obesity. The treatment of induced periodontitis reduced TC levels in obese rats.