The Effect of Experimental Periodontitis on the Serum Levels of Leptin and IL-18 in Insulin-Treated Diabetic Rats

摘要

The aim of this study in rats was to assess the effect of ligature-induced periodontitis on insulin-treated type 1 diabetes in terms of serum levels of leptin and interleukin-18 (IL-18). Twenty five male Wistar rats were studied, out of 40 initially used: (1) 14 rats with insulin-treated diabetes (control, DI) and (2) 11 rats with combination of insulin-treated diabetes and periodontitis (test, DIP). For all rats, type 1 diabetes was streptozotocin-induced and insulin treatment started on day 5. For DIP group, periodontitis was induced by ligation on day 16. Serum levels of leptin and IL-18 were assessed on days 16 (baseline) and 77 (final) by using multiplex immunoassay. All rats were sacrificed on day 77 (end of the study). Insulin treatment in the newly-induced diabetes significantly increased serum leptin levels and significantly reduced serum IL-18 levels. In the newly-induced diabetes, the combination of the continuation of insulin treatment and periodontitis nonsignificantly increased serum leptin and IL-18 levels. Serum IL-18 levels were significantly higher for the combination of periodontitis and insulin-treated diabetes as compared to insulin-treated diabetes alone. Within its limits, this study in rats showed that experimental periodontitis induced changes in serum biomarker levels suggestive of alterations in the systemic inflammation generated by insulin-treated type 1 diabetes.