Targeted proteomics in a population-based study identifies serum PECAM-1 and TRIM21 as inflammation markers for periodontitis.

OBJECTIVES

Periodontitis (PD) can cause systematic inflammation and is associated with various metabolic processes in the body. However, robust serum markers for these relationships are still lacking. This study aims to identify novel circulating inflammation-related proteins associated with PD using targeted proteomics.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We used population-based, cross-sectional data from 619 participants of the Polish Longitudinal University Study (Bialystok PLUS). Mean pocket probing depth (mPPD) and proportion of bleeding on probing (pBOP) served as exposure variables. Fifty-two inflammation-related proteins were measured using the Olink Target 96 Cardiovascular III and the Olink Target 96 Immune Response panels. Associations between periodontal measures and proteins were tested using covariate-adjusted linear regression models.

RESULTS

At a false discovery rate of < 0.05, we identified associations of mPPD and pBOP with platelet-endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1) and tripartite motif-containing protein 21 (TRIM21).

CONCLUSION

This study revealed novel associations between PD and serum levels of PECAM-1 and TRIM21. Our results suggest that these proteins might be affected by molecular processes that take place in the inflamed periodontium.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Novel associations of PECAM-1 and TRIM21 with PD indicate promising serum markers for understanding the disease's pathophysiological processes and call for further biomedical investigations.