Gene expression related to periodontal disease activity and selection of potential diagnostic biomarkers

• Grant number: 07/08424-3
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: August 01, 2008
• End date: January 31, 2011
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Dentistry - Periodontology
• Principal Investigator: Mario Taba Junior
• Grantee: Mario Taba Junior
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia de Ribeirão Preto (FORP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease, which has high prevalence in population, that causes the destruction of the periodontal attachment. The disease progression occurs through burst episodes of remission and exacerbation. The conventional diagnosis of periodontal disease is essentially clinical and does not include the evaluation of biomarkers related to the disease activity yet. Gene expression mapping by cDNA microarrays technology can be useful to categorize patients based on the risk and disease activity. With this important information we can infer about the disease prognostic with high degree of previsibility. Key genes may indicate potential biomarkers that will contribute for the better understanding of the immunological mechanisms involved in the establishment, progression and disease activity. The potential of saliva as a substrate for diagnostic and determination of biomarkers has been evidenced recently. Saliva is a fluid that can be easily collected, non-invasive and rich in information. It also has a great potential for developing practical solutions of diagnostic tools such as the tests for pregnancy and AIDS. From the identification of the best biomarkers, the transfer of knowledge will enable future exploration of rapid chair-side methods for clinical use without the need of the laboratories infrastructures. Therefore, the general aims of the study are (i) to evaluate the gene profile of healthy and periodontal disease patients presenting the active condition or not through the analysis of gene expression by cDNA microarrays technology and (ii) to select genes differentially expressed and to test them as possible markers of disease activity and (iii) to test the saliva as a substrate diagnosis to identify biomarkers related to the disease activity and stratification of risk. Specifically we aim to identify candidate genes related to the host response, which could be validated as biomarkers of the disease activity. (AU)