DOI: 10.4103/jisp.jisp_520_25 ISSN: 0972-124X

Smoking associated biomolecular signatures in periodontitis: An exploratory cross-sectional study

Rameshwari Singhal, Yusra Laiq, Abbas Ali Mahdi, Pavitra Rastogi, Prashant Gupta
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Abstract:

Aim:

The aim of this study was to investigate smoking-associated differences in selected microbial and host-response biomarkers, including Porphyromonas gingivalis , B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), among patients with chronic periodontitis, and to explore the relationship between salivary Bcl-2 concentration and tissue Bcl-2 expression.

Materials and Methods:

In this exploratory cross-sectional study, gingival tissue and unstimulated saliva samples were obtained from 96 patients with Stage III, Grade B periodontitis. P. gingivalis and Bcl-2 expression in gingival tissue were assessed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)/quantitative PCR-based methods, whereas salivary Bcl-2 and MMP-9 concentrations were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Participants were stratified according to smoking status. Between-group differences were evaluated using independent-samples t -tests or Mann–Whitney U -tests, as appropriate. The relationship between salivary Bcl-2 concentration and tissue Bcl-2 expression was also explored.

Results:

Of the 96 participants, 35 (36.5%) were smokers, and 61 (63.5%) were nonsmokers. Relative quantification indicated higher P. gingivalis expression in smokers (relative quantity [RQ] = 6.85); however, the between-group comparison of P. gingivalis Cycle threshold (CT) values did not reach statistical significance ( P = 0.060). Relative Bcl-2 expression was approximately two-fold higher in smokers (RQ = 2.05), with a significant between-group difference in CT values ( P = 0.003). Salivary MMP-9 concentrations were significantly higher among smokers ( P = 0.001). No significant correlation was observed between salivary Bcl-2 concentration and tissue Bcl-2 expression.

Conclusions:

Smokers with chronic periodontitis demonstrated alterations in selected microbial and host-response biomarkers, including higher relative Bcl-2 expression and elevated salivary MMP-9 concentrations. Although P. gingivalis showed a marked directional increase in relative quantification among smokers, the between-group CT comparison did not reach statistical significance. These findings are hypothesis-generating and indicate smoking-associated alterations in microbial, inflammatory, and apoptosis-related parameters in chronic periodontitis. Larger longitudinal and mechanistic studies are required to determine the clinical significance of these biomolecular alterations.

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