Affiliations: Department of Angiology, Medical University of Vienna,
Austria | Department for Conservative Dentistry, Medical School
of Vienna, Austria | Wilhelm Auerswald Atherosclerosis Research Group (ASF)
Vienna, Nadlergasse 1, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Prof. Dr. Roswitha Wolfram, Medical
University of Vienna, Austria, Department of Angiology, Waehringer Guertel
18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria. Tel.: +43 1 40400 4670; Fax: +43 1 40400 4665;
E-mail: rmwolfram@hotmail.com
Abstract: Isoprostanes (IPs) are indicators of in-vivo oxidative stress, and
have been successfully used as markers for chronic inflammatory processes. The
presence of chronic periodontal disease and cigarette smoking has been
individually linked to the development of atherosclerosis, yet data regarding
oxidative stress in this context are not available yet. The aim of this study
was to evaluate levels of the salivary prostaglandins (PGs)
8-epi-PGF_{2α},
6-oxo-PGF_{1α}, thromboxane B_{2}
(TXB_{2}) and PGF_{2α} in
association with periodontal disease status with and without additional
cigarette smoking. We analyzed saliva samples from 121 adults, (aged 21–73 years,
90 non-smokers, 31 smokers) for levels of
8-epi-PGF_{2α},
6-oxo-PGF_{1α}, TXB_{2} and
PGF_{2α}. On the basis of periodontal disease indices
the periodontal status of each subject was assessed and outcomes were then
correlated with smoking status and laboratory findings. Salivary 8-epi-PGF_{2α} levels increased
with deteriorating plaque index, and were significantly higher (115.5 ±
23.5 pg/ml) in smoking individuals, when compared to non-smokers (70.2 ±
20.4 pg/ml, p<0.0001). In addition, smokers showed higher
TXB_{2} and PGF_{2α s} and lower
6-oxo-PGF_{1α} levels p<0.0001). Oxidative stress, as reflected by elevated salivary
8-epi-PGF_{2α} levels, is associated with the extent
of periodontal disease and is significantly aggravated by concomitant tobacco
abuse. Chronic inflammation and smoking have been individually associated with
the development of atherosclerosis. The results of this study indicate that: 1)
salivary IPs can reliably assess the degree of oxidative stress, and: 2)
smoking and periodontal disease are two modifiable cardiovascular risk factors,
able to potentiate each other.
