Changes of plasma cytokine levels in ODUS/Odu

抄録

Periodontal disease is an inflammatory condition caused by periodontal bacteria. Its development and progression are related not only to bacterial pathogenicity, but also to the host response in the inflamed periodontal tissue. Recent studies have clarified the relationship between periodontal and systemic diseases. In this study, we measured the plasma levels of the proinflammatory cytokines interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10) in rats with spontaneous periodontal disease (ODUS/Odu), an animal model of periodontal disease developed and maintained in our laboratory. These rats are prone to marked plaque formation on the mandibular incisors, and develop gingivitis and periodontal pockets.
Plasma cytokine levels were measured in ODUS/Odu and control rats (Res) at 0 (5 weeks of birth), 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after the start of the experiment using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. The plasma levels of the proinflammatory cytokines IFN-γ and MCP-1 were significantly greater in ODUS/Odu than in Res throughout the experimental period (p<0.001). However, the plasma level of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 was significantly lower in ODUS/Odu than in Res throughout the experimental period (p<0.001). These results, similar to those obtained in patients with periodontal disease, suggest that the ODUS/Odu are a useful animal model of human periodontal disease.