Methods: Serum samples were collected from 30 non-diabetic patients with AP and 30 age- and gender-matched periodontally healthy controls. Inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IFN-γ and IL-18) and adipokines (leptin and adiponectin) were measured by cytokine arrays and ELISAs. Diabetes parameters (random plasma glucose (RPG) and HbA1c), lipid markers (triglycerides, cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol) and hs-CRP were also determined. This research was supported by a grant from Colgate Palmolive (Europe).
Results: Levels of diabetes parameters, inflammatory mediators, lipids and adipokines (and BMI and smoking practices) were not significantly different between the AP and healthy subjects (p>0.05).
| AP(n=30)* | Healthy (n=30)* | p-value |
RPG(mmol/l) | 4.80±5.24 | 4.78±5.12 | 0.921 |
HbA1c(%) | 5.35(5.10-5.53) | 5.50(5.20-5.63) | 0.201 |
Triglycerides(mmol/l) | 1.15(0.78-1.63) | 1.25(0.83-2.20) | 0.548 |
Cholesterol(mmol/l) | 5.24±1.09 | 5.51±1.39 | 0.410 |
HDL-cholesterol(mmol/l) | 1.61±0.35 | 1.71±0.52 | 0.408 |
hs-CRP(mg/dl) | 2.00(0.78-3.08) | 1.10(0.50-2.75) | 0.359 |
TNF-α(pg/ml) | 0.27(0.00-0.72) | 0.24(0.00-0.90) | 0.940 |
IL-1β(pg/ml) | 0.00(0.00-0.02) | 0.00(0.00-0.03) | 0.826 |
IL-6(pg/ml) | 0.06(0.00-0.19) | 0.06(0.00-0.18) | 0.869 |
IFN-γ(pg/ml) | 0.15(0.00-0.72) | 0.45(0.00-1.04) | 0.175 |
IL-18(pg/ml) | 158.7(114.7-245.2) | 144.8(89.7-205.2) | 0.495 |
Leptin(ng/ml) | 16.43±12.05 | 13.36±10.22 | 0.291 |
Adiponectin(μg/ml) | 4.15±1.68 | 4.86±2.23 | 0.168 |
*Means and standard deviations or medians and interquartile ranges are presented depending on data normality
Overall, HbA1c positively correlated with hs-CRP (p=0.016) and IL-18 (p=0.021). Adiponectin negatively correlated with RPG (p=0.032), IL-6 (p=0.041) and triglycerides (p=0.005). Triglycerides significantly positively correlated with TNF-α (p=0.049), IL-6 (p=0.011) and IFN-γ (p=0.009).
Conclusion: No significant differences in serum concentrations of the diabetes parameters, inflammatory mediators, lipids or adipokines were identified between patients with AP and periodontally-healthy controls. However, the numerous correlations detected between the diabetes parameters, inflammatory mediators, lipids and adipokines endorse an interconnected role of such mediators in diabetes, including a potential role of IL-18 and adiponectin.