Involvement of the Wnt-β-catenin signalling antagonists, sclerostin and dickkopf-related protein 1, in chronic periodontitis.

AIM: The regulation of Wnt-β-catenin signalling, which is crucial for osteoblast differentiation and for bone resorption, is driven by critical inhibitors such as sclerostin (SOST) and dickkopf-related protein 1 (DKK1). As such, the aim of this study was to evaluate the involvement of SOST and DKK1 in human chronic periodontitis.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Gingival biopsies and serum were sampled from systemically healthy non-periodontitis (n = 15) and chronic periodontitis subjects (n = 15). The mRNA and protein levels of SOST, DKK1 and TNF-α in periodontal tissues were measured by qPCR and by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) respectively. Serum levels of SOST, DKK1 and TNF-α were assessed by ELISA.

RESULTS: The mRNA and protein levels of SOST, DKK1 and TNF-α were significantly increased in the gingival tissues of the chronic periodontitis when compared to the non-periodontitis group (p < 0.05). In addition, circulating levels of SOST and TNF-α, but not DKK1, were higher in the periodontitis group than in the non-periodontitis group (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: SOST and DKK1 were upregulated in the periodontal tissues of chronic periodontitis subjects, suggesting a possible role of these molecules on periodontal tissues.