Ferraz Danilo Cassiano, Rende Sávio Gabriel Silva, Melo Anahi de Paula, Rosa Rodrigo César, Pereira Sanívia Aparecida de Lima, Moura Camilla Christian Gomes, Soares Priscilla Barbosa Ferreira
Department of Endodontics, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil.
Department of Structural Biology, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, MG, Brazil.
Sci Rep. 2025 Apr 16;15(1):13088. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-97601-3.
Apical periodontitis (AP) is a prevalent immunoinflammatory disease affecting adults worldwide, this disease is also often co-occurring with high exposure to cigarette smoke. While the harmful effects of secondhand smoke (ShS) are well-documented, its interaction with AP and systemic health implications remain underexplored. This study investigated the combined effects of ShS and AP on disease progression and lung health in a rat model. Twenty-eight female Wistar rats were assigned to four groups: control (no ShS, no AP), control-AP (AP without ShS), ShS (ShS without AP), and ShS-AP (ShS with AP). ShS exposure involved daily inhalation of smoke from up to four cigarettes for 10 weeks, with AP induced via pulp exposure in the lower first molar. Post-euthanasia, jaws and lung tissues were analyzed. Micro-computed tomography confirmed ShS exposure significantly increased the volume and area of apical lesions. Oxidative stress levels in the lung tissue were highest in the ShS-AP group, along with increased total oxidant activity and reduced antioxidant enzyme activity. AP and ShS together were associated with pronounced alveolar destruction and chronic airway remodeling in the lungs. These findings suggest a synergistic interaction between AP and ShS, exacerbating both local and systemic effects. This underscores the critical need to address the interplay between oral and systemic health, particularly in the context of environmental exposures like ShS.
根尖周炎（AP）是一种在全球范围内影响成年人的常见免疫炎症性疾病，这种疾病还常常与大量接触香烟烟雾同时发生。虽然二手烟（ShS）的有害影响已有充分记录，但其与AP的相互作用以及对全身健康的影响仍未得到充分研究。本研究在大鼠模型中调查了ShS和AP对疾病进展及肺部健康的联合影响。将28只雌性Wistar大鼠分为四组：对照组（无ShS，无AP）、对照-AP组（有AP但无ShS）、ShS组（有ShS但无AP）和ShS-AP组（有ShS且有AP）。ShS暴露包括每天吸入多达四支香烟的烟雾，持续10周，通过暴露下颌第一磨牙牙髓诱导AP。安乐死后，对颌骨和肺组织进行分析。微型计算机断层扫描证实，ShS暴露显著增加了根尖病变的体积和面积。ShS-AP组肺组织中的氧化应激水平最高，同时总氧化剂活性增加，抗氧化酶活性降低。AP和ShS共同作用与肺部明显的肺泡破坏和慢性气道重塑有关。这些发现表明AP和ShS之间存在协同相互作用，加剧了局部和全身效应。这突出了应对口腔健康与全身健康之间相互作用的迫切需求，尤其是在像ShS这样的环境暴露背景下。
