West China Journal of Stomatology

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 Effects of interleukin-18 and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α in serum and gingival tissues of rat model with periodontitis exposed to chronic intermittent hypoxia

Wang Bin, Wang Xiaoqin   

  1. Dept. of Stomatology, The First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China
  • Online:2015-08-01 Published:2015-08-01

Abstract:

Objective This study evaluates the expression of interleukin-18 (IL-18) and hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1αin rat periodontitis model exposed to normoxia and chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) environments. The possible correlation between periodontitis and obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) was also investigated. Methods Thirty-two Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats were randomly assigned into four groups: normoxia control, normoxia periodontitis, hypoxia control, and hypoxia periodontitis groups. The periodontitis models were established by ligating the bilateral maxillary second molars and employing high-carbohydrate diets. Rats in hypoxia control and hypoxia periodontitis groups were exposed to CIH treatment mimicking a moderately severe OSAHS condition. All animals were sacrificed after eight weeks, and the clinical periodontal indexes were detected. The levels of IL-18 and HIF-1α in serum and gingival tissues were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The correlation between attachment loss (AL) and the levels of IL-18 and HIF-1α in hypoxia periodontitis group was evaluated. Results The levels of IL-18 and HIF-1α in hypoxia periodontitis group were significantly higher than that in normoxia periodontitis and hypoxia control groups (P<0.05). Furthermore, the levels of IL-18 and HIF-1α in serum (r=0.792, r=0.753, P<0.05) and gingival tissues (r=0.817, r=0.779, P<0.05) were positively correlated with AL. Conclusion CIH could aggravate the destruction of periodontal tissues, which is correlated with IL-18 and HIF-1α levels.

Key words: chronic intermittent hypoxia, obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome, periodontitis, interleukin-18, hypoxia-inducible factor-1α