Effect of maternal true combined endodontic-periodontal lesion on insulin and inflammatory pathway in adult offspring

Background Maternal periodontal disease (PED) and apical periodontitis (AP) are associated insulin resistance (IR), increased tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) levels, and alterations in insulin signaling (IS) in the gastrocnemius muscle (GM) of adult offspring. TNF-alpha stimulates I kappa B kinase (IKK) and c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase (JNK), resulting in IS attenuation. However, studies that investigated the maternal true endodontic-periodontal lesion (EPL) in offspring are scarce, and in this case, the impact could be even higher. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of EPL on the IR, IS, and inflammatory pathways on the offspring GM. Methods Female Wistar rats were distributed into control, AP, PED, and EPL groups. After 30 days of oral inflammation induction, rats from all groups were allowed to mate with healthy rats. The body weight of the offspring was assessed from birth to 75 days of age. After 75 days, the following measurements were performed: glycemia, insulinemia, IR, TNF-alpha content, and IKK alpha/beta, JNK, pp185 (Tyr), and IRS-1 (Ser) phosphorylation status in the GM. Results Maternal PED and EPL were associated with low birth weights. All maternal oral inflammations promoted IR and IS impairment in the GM and only maternal PED and EPL caused an increase in TNF-alpha content and IKK alpha/beta phosphorylation status in the GM of offspring. The offspring of the rats with EPL group showed worsening of metabolic changes when compared with offspring of rats with AP or PED. Conclusion Association of maternal AP and PED promoted a more pronounced worsening in the health of the adult offspring.