Periostin is Down-regulated during Periodontal Inflammation

Periostin, a matricellular adapter protein highly expressed by periodontal ligament fibroblasts, is implicated in the maintenance of periodontal integrity, which is compromised during periodontal diseases. The aim of this study was to explore the influence of chronic periodontal inflammation on tissue periostin levels. Periodontal breakdown was induced in a pre-clinical ligature periodontal inflammatory disease model. Periodontal tissue specimens were harvested at baseline, 2 weeks, and 4 weeks and prepared for histologic, immunofluorescence, and micro-CT examination. Statistical analyses were conducted by Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney, and Spearman's tests. Periostin detection levels were reduced over time in response to the inflammatory process (1 +/- 0.05; 0.67 +/- 0.03; 0.31 +/- 0.02; p < 0.001; baseline, 2, and 4 weeks, respectively). Simultaneously, alveolar bone loss increased from baseline to the 2- and 4-week time-points (0.40 +/- 0.02 mm; 1.39 +/- 0.08 mm; 1.33 +/- 0.15 mm; p < 0.001), which was inversely correlated with the levels of periostin (rho = -0.545; p < 0.001). In conclusion, periostin PDL tissue levels significantly decrease under chronic inflammatory response and correlate with the detrimental changes to the periodontium over time.