Association of salivary levels of DNA sensing inflammasomes AIM2, IFI16 and cytokine IL 18 with periodontitis and diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Aberrant deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) contributes to inflammasome orchestrated progression of chronic inflammatory diseases like diabetes and periodontitis. The purpose of the present study was to estimate salivary levels of DNA sensing inflammasomes; absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2), interferon γ inducible protein (IFI16) and cytokine interleukin 18 (IL18) in individuals with periodontitis, diabetes and healthy controls and interpret its association with periodontal and diabetic parameters.

METHODS: Salivary levels of AIM2, IFI16 and IL18 was estimated by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in a total of 120 individuals (n = 30 in each group), namely healthy (Group 1), periodontitis (Group 2), diabetes (Group 3) and diabetes with periodontitis (Group 4). Correlations of inflammasome levels and periodontal clinical parameters - plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), bleeding on probing (BOP), probing pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment level (CAL) and periodontal inflamed surface area (PISA)was performed. Multiple regression was carried out to predict AIM2 and IFI16 with various independent variables.

RESULTS: The mean salivary levels of AIM2, IFI16 and IL18 were highest in diabetes with periodontitis (Group 4) and least in healthy (Group 1) and statistically significant between the groups (p = 0.000). Significant positive correlation between clinical periodontal parameters and AIM2, IFI16 and IL8 was present (p≤0.05). Multiple regression showed HbA1C (p = 0.002), GI (p = 0.016), PISA (p = 0.002) and CAL (p = 0.004) were significant predictors of AIM2, while HbA1C (p = 0.012), PISA (P = 0.003) and CAL (p = 0.007) predicted IFI16.

CONCLUSION: The results of the present study showed higher levels of AIM2, IFI16 and IL18 in saliva of individuals with diabetes and periodontitis. HbA1C, PISA and CAL were significant independent predictors of salivary AIM2 and IFI16 levels. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.