Adrenomedullin Upregulation in Apical Periodontitis

Bone destruction in apical periodontitis (AP) depends on the microorganisms' efficiency to breach the host-epithelial barrier and various antimicrobial peptides. Mid-regional pro adrenomedullin (MR-proADM) is one such potent antimicrobial peptide, which plays a regulatory and stabilizing role among proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines. A broad range of cells and tissues produce MR-proADM such as adrenal medulla, kidney, lungs, and endothelial cells. MR-proADM was found to be present in circulation and in various biological fluids. It is reported to function both as a generalized hormone and locally affecting autocrine or paracrine mediator. Its plasma level is usually elevated in certain conditions such as heart failure, hypertensive situations, cerebro-vascular events, chronic kidney failure, diabetes mellitus, sepsis and periodontitis. Besides these, MR-proADM has drawn attention as it stimulates the proinflammatory cytokine IL-6 and suppresses cytokines, like TNF- α, for regulating inflammation, being a potent of inhibitor of apoptosis and stimulating angiogenesis in tumor cells. However, there is still a large information gap on MR-proADM. Despite all these effects, there is not enough information in the literature about the effect of MR-proADM on oral and dental health and its effectiveness in apical periodontitis. Whether AP can cause any alterations in the MR-proADM value is also unknown.

Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between AP severity and inflammatory markers (IL-12, TNF-alpha), and MR-proADM in patients with AP. In addition, the results will be compared with the results of healthy controls and patients with chronic periodontitis.

Inclusion criteria

Must be systemically healthy Patients with only apical periodontitis (for AP group) Patients with only chronic periodontitis (for CP group) Orally healthy patients

Exclusion criteria

any local or systemic inflammatory disease connective tissue diseases like systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) cardiovascular disease inflammatory and rheumatic disease diabetes rheumatoid arthritis, or Behcet's disease granulomatous diseases like sarcoidosis inflammatory intestinal diseases like ulcerative colitis and Crohn's autoimmune intestinal diseases like celiac thyroid diseases like Hashimoto and Graves patients who had taken antibiotics and/or anti-inflammatory drugs within the last 6 months those with pregnancy or lactation