Correlation between Leptin and chronic periodontitis

One important function of leptin is the regulation of immune or inflammatory responses. Moreover, in a recent study no correlation between leptin and periodontal diseases was found. Therefore the aim of this study is to determine the correlation between leptin concentration and chronic periodontitis.

In this analytical study, 20 healthy gingival tissue samples (control group) and 20 gingival tissues with advanced and moderate chronic periodontitis (case group) and 20 blood samples were taken from 20 patients. Patients were consisted of 55% females and 45% males with average age of 42.25 yrs. Tissue samples were cultured for 72 hours. In the case of blood samples, the serum was immediately collected. Then ELISA was used for detecting of leptin and IL-6 in supernatant fluids of explant cultures and leptin in serum samples. Statistical analysis was made by Paired T-test and Wilcoxon signed Ranks test.

There was no leptin in gingival samples of both cases and control groups. The mean concentration of IL-6 in control and case groups was 81.08±36.72 and 90.35±29.71 pg/ml, respectively. Statistical analysis has shown no difference between case and control groups regarding IL-6 concentration.

It is concluded that leptin does not have any role as an inflammatory protein in chronic periodontitis and regarding the absence of leptin in all of gingival samples, we could not consider gingiva as a possible source of leptin.