Quantification of virulence factors and immunobiological aspects of necrotic teeth

• Grant number: 22/07799-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2022
• End date: February 29, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Dentistry - Endodontics
• Principal Investigator: Brenda Paula Figueiredo de Almeida Gomes
• Grantee: Leonardo Correa Bueno
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia de Piracicaba (FOP). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Endodontic infections involve different bacterial associations, with Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria interacting amongst themselves and increasing tissue destruction. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS, endotoxin) and lipoteichoic acid (LTA) are virulence factors of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, respectively. The accumulation of bacterial components present in endodontic infections, including LPS and LTA, can stimulate the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines by different receptors. Cytokines are proteins that have a signaling function, mediating cellular functions, such as receiving responses to infection, inflammation, and trauma. The present study aims to quantify the levels of total proteins, of inflammatory cytokines: interleukin-1± (IL-1±), interleukin-11² (IL-1²), interleukin-6 (IL-6), the necrosis factor tumoral-a (TNF-±), of LPS and LTA in the periapical tissues of symptomatic and asymptomatic necrotic teeth and to verify possible associations between these inflammatory modulators. Samples were collected from patients in need of endodontic treatment due to the presence of pulp necrosis, who were divided into symptomatic (n=10) and asymptomatic (n=10) groups. LPS levels will be quantified by the Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL), LTA, and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1±, IL-1² , IL-6; TNF-±) by enzyme immunoassay (ELISA). The results will be tabulated and statistically analyzed using the SPSS for Windows program, considering a significance level of 5%.(AU)