Periodontitis and Atherosclerosis - Mechanisms of Association Through Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 Expression

Background. The association between periodontitis and atherosclerosis and its complications has long been postulated. Objectives. The objective of this study was to analyze the expression of MMP-1 in gingival epithelium. Material and Methods. 29 pieces of periodontal tissues of patients who had died in Sumy Regional Hospital were evaluated for revealing MMP-1 by immunohistochemistry and fluorescent microscopy. Results. Immunoexpression of MMP-1 (atherosclerotic group) was confirmed by the presence of brown stained cytoplasm epithelial layers and leukocytic infiltration. Immunoexpression of MMP-1 in epithelial layers showed 95.8 +/- 2.43% (P < 0.001) positive cells. In the lamina propria leukocytic infiltration, immunoreactivity of MMP-1 was classified with a score of 19 in most atherosclerotic cases, that is 41.21 +/- 3.86% (P < 0.05). Immunoexpression of MMP-1 in epithelial layers showed the result of 35.1 +/- 4.89% (P < 0.05) positive cells and immunoexpression of MMP-1 in leukocytic infiltration showed 48.23 +/- 5.24% (P < 0.05). In general, MMP-1 staining seemed to be more intense in the granular cell layer. Conclusions. MMP-1 plays an important role in the biology of periodontal disease. An increased concentration of MMP-1 in the epithelial layers and leukocytic infiltration of group I patients suggests that the expression of MMP-1 contributes to epithelial invasion of collagen matrix in case of atherosclerosis. This mechanism might contribute to explaining the association between major cardiovascular diseases and oral infections.