Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and periodontitis – unwinding their linking mechanisms

Conclusion The present article briefly reviews the interlinking mechanisms between the two diseases, starting with the role of periodontal pathogens, innate immunity, and, ultimately, imbalances in oxidative stress and the protease–antiprotease system. Although epidemiological evidence provides no clear association between these two diseases, the striking commonalities should not be overlooked. Hence, future research should be targeted to this area in order to obtain constructive information.
Source: Journal of Oral Biosciences - Category: Biomedical Science Source Type: research