Periodontal Disease, Atherosclerosis, Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes, and Head-and-Neck Cancer.

Periodontal Disease, Atherosclerosis, Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes, and Head-and-Neck Cancer. Adv Dent Res. 2014 May;26(1):47-55 Authors: Han YW, Houcken W, Loos BG, Schenkein HA, Tezal M Abstract Interrelationships between periodontal infection and systemic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, adverse pregnancy outcomes, and head-and-neck cancer have become increasingly appreciated in recent years. Periodontitis is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and, experimentally, with measures of atherosclerosis and endothelial dysfunction. Periodontal therapy may reduce atherosclerotic changes and improve endothelial function. Preliminary findings suggest a role for the genetic locus ANRIL in the pathobiology of both CVD and periodontitis. Periodontal pathogens induce anticardiolipin in periodontitis patients by molecular mimicry of the serum protein β-2 glycoprotein I. These antibodies have biological and pathological activities consistent with those reported for other infection-induced antiphospholipid antibodies. Anticardiolipin may explain some of the observed associations between periodontitis and systemic conditions such as CVD and adverse pregnancy outcomes. The oral commensal Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn) becomes pathogenic on migration to extra-oral sites. Fn infection of the fetal-placental unit has been linked to pregnancy complications, including preterm birth, stillbirth, and early-onset neonatal sepsis. Reagents a...
Source: Adv Dent Res - Category: Dentistry Authors: Tags: Adv Dent Res Source Type: research