MicroRNA-146a and microRNA-155 as novel crevicular fluid biomarkers for periodontitis in non-diabetic and type 2 diabetic patients.

AIM: Recent studies point at the crucial role of epigenetic mechanisms in the development of multifactorial diseases such as periodontitis and diabetes mellitus (DM) type 2. In addition, circulatory microRNAs (miRs) have emerged as novel biomarkers for various diseases. Aim of this study was to investigate the levels of miR-146a and miR-155 and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of periodontitis patients with (CPDM) and without (CP) DM type 2 as well as in periodontally healthy, control groups (PHDM and PH, respectively).

MATERIAL AND METHODS: miR modulation was analysed using quantitative real-time PCR while SOD activity was measured spectrophotometrically.

RESULTS: The upregulation of miR-146a and miR-155 was observed in CP and CPDM patients' baseline, while the levels decreased after 6 weeks of the non-surgical therapy to the levels comparable to PH and PHDM, respectively. Expression levels of miRs positively correlated with SOD activity. Levels of miR-146a were higher in PHDM compared to PH patients. Multivariate analysis revealed that levels of miR-146a and miR-155 were significantly associated with periodontitis when adjusting for age and gender.

CONCLUSIONS: miR-146a and miR-155 may be considered as possible novel biomarkers for periodontitis in non-diabetic and type 2 diabetic patients.