Quantification of Micro-RNA 146-a in Chronic Periodontitis and Coronary Heart Disease Subjects

The quantification of the levels of MicroRNA 146-a was analyzed in subgingival plaque samples of generalized chronic periodontitis subjects with and without coronary heart disease and compared them with the healthy subject.A total of 90 subjects were selected for the study and assigned to 3 groups based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Group I comprised of 30 subjects with Generalized chronic periodontitis diagnosed with coronary heart disease.Group II comprised of 30 subjects with Generalized chronic periodontitis without coronary heart disease and Group III comprised of 30 systemically healthy volunteers with no chronic periodontitis or coronary heart disease. Demographic variables such as age, weight,height,BMI and income and clinical parameters such as plaque index, bleeding on probing, probing pocket depth and clinical attachement levels were recorded. Subgingival plaque samples were collected from all the 3 groups. The collected samples were subject to further molecular analysis for micro-RNA expression and quantification using RT-PCR.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients willing to participate in the study.
• Patients within the age group of 35-65 years.
• Should have ≥ 10 natural teeth.
• For group I Generalized chronic periodontitis patients with coronary heart disease: Generalised chronic periodontitis is defined as those having 30% or more sites with clinical attachment loss (CAL) ≥ 3mm.
• For group II Generalized chronic periodontitis patients without coronary heart disease.
• Healthy controls were selected based on the following criteria: Probing pocket depth (PD) less than 4mm, bleeding on probing (BOP) at ≤15% of tooth sides, and no periodontal treatment (Scaling and root planning or periodontal surgery) within the previous six months.

Exclusion criteria

• Patients with systemic conditions such as type I, type II and pre diabetes mellitus, respiratory diseases, renal disease, liver disease, collagenosis, rheumatoid arthritis, allergy, advanced malignancies and HIV infection were excluded from the present investigation.
• Use of drugs such as corticosteroids, antibiotics within 6 month of investigation and immuno-suppressive chemotherapy.
• Smokers and other behavioural factors which may influence the study.
• Patients who had undergone periodontal therapy within the previous 6 months.
• Female patients (due to hormonal changes and pregnancy which may alter the oral flora).