Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey.
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey.
J Periodontol. 2024 Jan;95(1):64-73. doi: 10.1002/JPER.23-0072. Epub 2023 Jul 24.
Mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum are key cellular organelles and create contact sites (mitochondria-endoplasmic reticulum contact [MERC]), which plays a major role in calcium metabolism, apoptotic processes, and inflammation. Previously, proteins that have been associated with these MERC contact sites mitofusin-1 (MFN1) and mitofusin-2 (MFN2) have been found to be downregulated in periodontal disease in vitro. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to evaluate MFN1 and MFN2 in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of patients with periodontal disease compared with healthy controls clinically.
A total of 48 participants were divided into three groups including periodontally healthy (n = 16), patients with gingivitis (n = 16), and patients with stage 3 grade B periodontitis (n = 16). GCF levels of MFN1, MFN2, calcium (Ca), caspase-1, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were determined via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results were calculated as total amount and concentration.
MFN1 levels (total amount) were significantly higher in patients with periodontitis and gingivitis when compared with healthy controls (p < 0.05). However, concentration levels of MFN1, MFN2, Ca, caspase-1, TNF-α significantly decreased in periodontal disease groups compared with healthy controls (p < 0.05). A positive correlation was detected among all evaluated markers (p < 0.05).
The MERC protein MFN1 may have a role in the pathogenesis of periodontal disease due to its increase in GCF of patients with periodontitis and gingivitis.
线粒体和内质网是关键的细胞细胞器，并形成接触位点（线粒体-内质网接触[MERC]），在钙代谢、凋亡过程和炎症中发挥主要作用。先前，已发现与这些 MERC 接触位点相关的蛋白质——线粒体融合蛋白 1（MFN1）和线粒体融合蛋白 2（MFN2）在体外牙周病中下调。因此，本研究旨在评估牙周病患者龈沟液（GCF）中的 MFN1 和 MFN2 与健康对照者相比的临床水平。
共 48 名参与者分为三组，包括牙周健康者（n=16）、牙龈炎患者（n=16）和 3B 期牙周炎患者（n=16）。通过酶联免疫吸附试验（ELISA）测定 GCF 中 MFN1、MFN2、钙（Ca）、半胱天冬酶-1 和肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）的水平。结果以总量和浓度计算。
与健康对照组相比，牙周炎和牙龈炎患者的 MFN1 水平（总量）显著升高（p<0.05）。然而，与健康对照组相比，牙周病组的 MFN1、MFN2、Ca、半胱天冬酶-1 和 TNF-α的浓度水平显著降低（p<0.05）。所有评估标志物之间均存在正相关（p<0.05）。
由于 MERC 蛋白 MFN1 在牙周炎和牙龈炎患者的 GCF 中增加，因此其可能在牙周病的发病机制中发挥作用。
