Ethanol consumption enhances periodontal inflammatory markers in rats

Deleterious effect of chronic high-dose ethanol intake on biomechanical bone properties and periodontal status

To evaluate the effect of high-graduation chronic ethanol (EtOH) intake on bone and periodontal tissues of rats. Male Wistar rats (250 g) were divided into two groups of n = 12 each one. EtOH (5 ml of 3 g/kg) was administered to the experimental group by gastric gavage twice a day for 20 days and the control group received water under the same conditions. The rats were euthanized and used to perform biochemical determination in plasma and gingival tissue, and histological and biomechanical studies in the femur and mandibular tissues. Alcohol increased both TNFα (p < 0.01) and PGE2 (p < 0.05) in plasma and gingiva (p < 0.05) as compared to controls. In addition, EtOH increased the alveolar bone loss as evidenced by the increased distance between the cement enamel junction and the alveolar crest (p < 0.01), the lower % of interradicular bone expressed as bone area/total area (B.Ar/T.Ar, p < 0.05) and the larger periodontal space (p < 0.05), as compared to controls. Likewise, the mandibular microtomographic analysis in alcoholized rats revealed a lower % of interradicular bone volume/total volume (BV/TV, p < 0.05), greater trabecular separation (p < 0.05) and greater % trabecular porosity (p < 0.05) than controls. No biomechanical alteration was observed in lower jaws, while the femur of alcoholized rats presented a decrease in the structural bone properties (p < 0.001), as a systemic consequence of deterioration of the diaphyseal architecture (p < 0.01) without changes in material properties. The consumption of high doses of alcohol produces deleterious effects on periodontal tissues that could be due not only to local but also systemic effects.

Fractal analysis is a useful tool for evaluating prostate tissue remodeling caused by ethanol consumption and androgen therapy

Alcohol has been widely consumed for centuries and is linked to the aggravation of diseases. Several studies have shown that excessive consumption of ethanol results in morphophysiological changes in the male reproductive system. One of the effects of ethanol is the decrease in testosterone concentration and hormonal therapies are an alternative to minimize the changes resulting from chronic alcoholism. Qualitative studies were commonly carried out to evaluate the male histopathological alterations resulting from ethanol consumption, being necessary quantitative and non-subjective techniques. This study analyzes the importance of fractal analysis as a useful tool to identify and quantify tissue remodeling in rats submitted to ethanol consumption and hormone therapy with testosterone. Prostate of animals submitted to chronic ethanol consumption showed tissue disorganization, which was confirmed by an increasing of fractal dimension. Regarding the prostatic stroma, collagen fractal dimension and quantification revealed lower values in animals that were only submitted to androgen therapy. Thus, we can conclude that the fractal analysis was a useful tool to quantify tissue changes caused by ethanol consumption and androgen therapy.

Aerobic Physical Training Attenuates Oxidative Stress in the Spinal Cord of Adult Rats Induced by Binge-like Ethanol Intake

Binge drinking is the most frequent consumption pattern among young adults and remarkably changes the central nervous system; thus, research on strategies to protect it is relevant. This study aimed to investigate the detrimental effects of binge-like EtOH intake on the spinal cord of male rats and the potential neuroprotective effects provided by moderate-intensity aerobic physical training. Male Wistar rats were distributed into the 'control group', 'training group', 'EtOH group', and 'training + EtOH'. The physical training protocol consisted of daily 30-min exercise on a treadmill for 5 consecutive days followed by 2 days off during 4 weeks. After the fifth day of each week, distilled water ('control group' and 'training group') or 3 g/kg of EtOH diluted at 20% w/v ('EtOH group' and 'training + EtOH group') was administered for 3 consecutive days through intragastric gavage to simulate compulsive consumption. Spinal cord samples were collected for oxidative biochemistry and morphometric analyses. The binge-like EtOH intake induced oxidative and tissue damage by decreasing reduced glutathione (GSH) levels, increasing lipid peroxidation (LPO), and reducing motor neurons (MN) density in the cervical segment. Even under EtOH exposure, physical training maintained GSH levels, reduced LPO, and prevented MN reduction at the cervical segment. Physical training is a non-pharmacological strategy to neuroprotect the spinal cord against oxidative damage induced by binge-like EtOH intake.

May alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks affect the rate of orthodontic tooth movement? A systematic review of animal studies

BACKGROUND

Humans may consume various beverages in everyday life. Previous research has shown that the administration of different substances (medicinal or not) may affect bone turnover and, thus, orthodontic tooth movement. It would be anticipated that the substances contained in beverages could have an impact on tooth movement, as well.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate in a systematic way and appraise the quality of the available evidence from animal studies regarding the impact of various drinks or the main ingredients included in beverages on the rate of orthodontic tooth movement.

SEARCH METHODS

Search without restriction in six databases (including grey literature) and hand searching were performed until March 2022.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We looked for controlled animal studies investigating the effect of drinks, or the main ingredients included in beverages, on the rate of orthodontic tooth movement.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

After study retrieval and selection, relevant data was extracted, and the risk of bias was assessed using the SYRCLE's Risk of Bias Tool. The quality of available evidence was assessed with the Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation.

RESULTS

The initially identified records were finally reduced to nine studies conducted on animals. Carbonated soft drinks were shown to decrease the rate of tooth movement, but alcohol consumption did not have an impact. Exploratory meta-analysis showed that caffeine exhibited an acceleratory effect after 3 weeks of force application. Exploratory meta-regression results indicated that high dosages of caffeine reduced the rate of tooth movement.

CONCLUSIONS

The located animal experiments reported that caffeine accelerates, carbonated drinks decelerate, while alcohol does not affect the rate of orthodontic tooth movement. However, due to various limitations it remains unclear whether caffeine, alcohol, or carbonated drinks finally influence tooth movement in animal studies.

REGISTRATION

Open Science Framework (https://osf.io/jyhbd/).

Ethanol- and Cigarette Smoke-Related Alternations in Oral Redox Homeostasis

Alcohol abuse as well as smoking cigarettes has been proven to negatively affect the oral environment. The aim of this work was to provide a systematic review of the literature on the influence of ethanol and cigarette smoking on oral redox homeostasis. A search was performed for scientific articles indexed in the PubMed, Medline and Web of Science databases. We identified 32,300 articles, of which 54 were used for the final review, including the results from 2000 to 2021. Among the publications used to write this article, n = 14 were related to the influence of alcohol consumption (clinical studies n = 6, experimental studies n = 8) and n = 40 were related to the influence of smoking (clinical studies n = 33, experimental studies n = 7) on oral redox homeostasis. The reviewed literature indicates that alcohol abusers and smokers are more likely to suffer from salivary gland dysfunction, as well as develop precancerous lesions due to DNA damage. Compared to alcohol abstainers and non-smokers, alcohol drinkers and smokers are also characterized by a deterioration in periodontal health measured by various indicators of periodontal status. In summary, alcohol abuse and smoking are associated with disrupted oral redox homeostasis, which may lead not only to tooth loss, but also contribute to various adverse effects related to mental health, digestive processes and chronic inflammation throughout the human body.

Ethanol binge drinking exposure affects alveolar bone quality and aggravates bone loss in experimentally-induced periodontitis

Background

Periodontitis is a multifactorial inflammatory disease of tooth supporting tissues caused by oral biofilms, influenced by environmental and genetic factors, among others. Ethanol consumption has been considered a factor that enhances alveolar bone loss, especially in high doses. The present study aims to investigate the changes promoted by ethanol binge drinking per se or associated with ligature-induced periodontal breakdown on alveolar bone loss.

Materials and methods

Thirty-two Wistar rats were randomly allocated into four groups: control (C), ethanol (3g/kg/day; 3 days On-4 days Off protocol by gavage for 28 days, EtOH), experimental periodontitis (EP) and experimental periodontitis plus ethanol administration (EP+EtOH). On day 14^th, periodontitis was induced by ligatures that were placed around the lower first molars. On day 28^th, the animals were euthanized and mandibles were submitted to stereomicroscopy for exposed root area analysis and micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) for the evaluation of alveolar bone loss and microstructural parameters.

Results

The results revealed that ligature-induced alveolar bone loss is aggravated by ethanol binge drinking compared to controls (1.06 ± 0.10 vs 0.77 ± 0.04; p<0.0001). In addition, binge drinking per se altered the alveolar bone quality and density demonstrating a reduction in trabecular thickness, trabecular number parameter and bone density percentual. Periodontal disorder plus ethanol binge drinking group also demonstrated reduction of the quality of bone measured by trabecular thickness.

Conclusions

In conclusion, intense and episodic ethanol intake decreased alveolar bone quality in all microstructural parameters analyzed which may be considered a modifying factor of periodontitis, intensifying the already installed disease.

Effects of ethanol on human periodontal ligament fibroblasts subjected to static compressive force

Consumption of toxic substances such as alcohol is widespread in the general population and thus also in patients receiving orthodontic treatment. Since human periodontal ligament (hPDL) fibroblasts play a key role in orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) by expressing cytokines and chemokines, we wanted to clarify whether ethanol modulates the physiological activity and expression pattern of hPDL fibroblasts during static compressive force application. We pre-incubated hPDL fibroblasts for 24 h with different ethanol concentrations, corresponding to casual (0.041% blood alcohol concentration [BAC], % by volume) and excessive (0.179%) alcohol consumption. At each ethanol concentration, we incubated the cells for another 48 h with and without an additional physiological compressive force of 2 g/cm² occurring during orthodontic tooth movement in compression areas of the periodontal ligament. Thereafter, we analyzed expression and secretion of genes and proteins involved in OTM regulation by RT-qPCR and ELISA. We also performed co-culture experiments to observe hPDL-fibroblast-mediated osteoclastogenesis. We observed no effects of ethanol on cytotoxicity or cell viability of hPDL fibroblasts in the applied concentrations. Ethanol showed an enhancing effect on angiogenesis and activity of alkaline phosphatase. Simultaneously, ethanol reduced the induction of IL-6 and increased prostaglandin E₂ synthesis as well as hPDL-fibroblast-mediated osteoclastogenesis without affecting the RANK-L/OPG-system. hPDL fibroblasts thus seem to be a cell type quite resistant to ethanol, as no cytotoxic effects or influence on cell viability were detected. High ethanol concentrations, however, seem to promote bone formation and angiogenesis. Ethanol at 0.179% also enhanced hPDL-induced osteoclastogenesis, indicating increased bone resorption and thus tooth movement velocity to be expected during orthodontic therapy.

Relationship between alcohol consumption and periodontal tissue condition in community-dwelling elderly Japanese

OBJECTIVES

To examine the associations among alcohol consumption level, dietary intake and other lifestyle factors, and periodontal condition, in community-dwelling elderly Japanese of a specific age.

BACKGROUND

The relationship between alcohol consumption level and periodontitis is a controversial issue.

METHODS

Participants were 438 dentate elders aged 73 years from a larger cohort survey of elders in Niigata City, Japan. Data collected from oral examination of each participant, including number of the existing teeth, mean probing pocket depth and mean clinical attachment level (CAL) were used for the analyses. A semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire and a lifestyle habit questionnaire were used to assess food and alcohol consumption, smoking experience, frequency of tooth brushing, interdental brush use, and visits to a dental clinic during the previous year. Blood glucose control was assessed by the glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) level. Body mass index was calculated from height and weight measurements. The relationships between each variable and the individual mean CAL were analysed by univariate and multivariate analyses.

RESULTS

According to logistic regression analysis, the mean CAL was significantly associated with the number of existing teeth (odds ratio [OR] = 0.90; P < .001), being a heavy drinker (OR = 2.44; P < .05), and smoking experience (OR = 2.37; P < .01).

CONCLUSION

This study showed that increased mean CAL was significantly associated with heavy drinking in community-dwelling elderly Japanese (aged 73 years) compared with non-drinking. Our results provide new evidence that high alcohol consumption is associated with an increased risk of periodontal disease and its progression.

Does Oxidative Stress Induced by Alcohol Consumption Affect Orthodontic Treatment Outcome?

HIGHLIGHTS Ethanol, Periodontal ligament, Extracellular matrix, Orthodontic movement. Alcohol is a legal drug present in several drinks commonly used worldwide (chemically known as ethyl alcohol or ethanol). Alcohol consumption is associated with several disease conditions, ranging from mental disorders to organic alterations. One of the most deleterious effects of ethanol metabolism is related to oxidative stress. This promotes cellular alterations associated with inflammatory processes that eventually lead to cell death or cell cycle arrest, among others. Alcohol intake leads to bone destruction and modifies the expression of interleukins, metalloproteinases and other pro-inflammatory signals involving GSKβ, Rho, and ERK pathways. Orthodontic treatment implicates mechanical forces on teeth. Interestingly, the extra- and intra-cellular responses of periodontal cells to mechanical movement show a suggestive similarity with the effects induced by ethanol metabolism on bone and other cell types. Several clinical traits such as age, presence of systemic diseases or pharmacological treatments, are taken into account when planning orthodontic treatments. However, little is known about the potential role of the oxidative conditions induced by ethanol intake as a possible setback for orthodontic treatment in adults.

The effects of binge-pattern alcohol consumption on orthodontic tooth movement

OBJECTIVE:

This study aimed to assess tissue changes during orthodontic movement after binge-pattern ethanol 20% exposure.

METHODS:

Male Wistar rats (n = 54) were divided into two groups. The control group (CG) received 0.9% saline solution, while the experimental group (EG) received 20% ethanol in 0.9% saline solution (3 g/kg/day). On the 30^th day, a force of 25 cN was applied with a nickel-titanium closed coil spring to move the maxillary right first molar mesially. The groups were further divided into three subgroups (2, 14 and 28 days). Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase and picrosirius were used to assess bone resorption and neoformation, respectively. Data were compared by two-way ANOVA, Tukey's HSD, Games-Howell and chi-square test. Significance level was set at 5%.

RESULTS:

There was a decrease in the number of osteoclasts in EG at day 28. The percentage of collagen showed no interaction between group and time.

CONCLUSION:

Binge-pattern 20% ethanol promoted less bone resorption at the end of tooth movement, thereby suggesting delay in tooth movement.

Chronic alcohol consumption alters periodontal health in rats

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of chronic alcohol consumption on periodontitis development in rats.

METHODS

Periodontal disease was experimentally induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 2 mg/ml) injections into the gingival tissue around first upper and lower molar's neck, and into the interdental space between first and second molars. This protocol was repeated for 6 weeks on days 1, 3, and 5 of each week. Chronic alcohol consumption was induced by 20% ethanol (EtOH) as the only liquid source during 4 months.

RESULTS

Chronic alcohol consumption by itself increased alveolar bone loss and biological mediators of periodontal disease such as prostaglandin E2 (PGE2 ) content on gingival tissue, and inducible nitric oxide synthase activity plus PGE2 content in submandibular gland. Unexpectedly, alcohol consumption did not increase the damage evoked by the proved model of LPS injections for periodontitis induction.

CONCLUSIONS

Results suggest 20% alcohol consumption during 4 months generates differential effects on oral health of rats, depending on its pathophysiological state: It would exacerbate the inflammatory condition when periodontal damage is absent, but it would not when damage is installed.

Expression profiles of NOS isoforms in gingiva of nNOS knockout mice

Nitric oxide is a gaseous molecule associated with many distinct physiological functions, and is derived from L-arginine catalyzed by nitric oxide synthase (NOS). Nitric oxide synthase has 3 isoforms: nNOS, iNOS and eNOS. Although these NOS isoforms are believed to play an important role in gingival tissue, little information is available on their morphological dynamics. The aim of this study was to investigate the profiles of NOS isoforms in deficiency of nNOS in gingiva of mice. Twelve male (6 normal (C57BL/6) and 6 nNOS knockout) mice were used. All mice were 5-week-old, weighing approximately 20-25 g each. After sacrifice, the jaws of the mice were removed by mechanical means and specimens analyzed by histology, in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. Immunohistochemical observation revealed positive staining for iNOS and eNOS, especially in lamina propria. Similar results in the mRNA expression levels were shown by in situ hybridization analysis. It may suggest that iNOS and eNOS compensated nNOS deficiency in the gingiva of nNOS knockout mice.

Effects of alcohol and/or tobacco exposure on spontaneous alveolar bone loss in rat

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of alcohol and/or tobacco exposure on spontaneous alveolar bone loss in Wistar rats. Twenty-four, male, 60 day-old, Wistar rats were assigned to 4 groups: Group 1 received 10 mL/kg of glucose solution (5%). Group 2 received 2 g/kg alcohol (20%). Group 3 was exposed to tobacco smoke (6 cigarettes/60 min). Group 4 received both interventions of groups 2 and 3. Alcohol was given by gastric gavage and cigarette exposure was performed using a forced ventilation chamber. After 30 days, animals were sacrificed and the upper maxillae removed and defleshed. Morphometric analysis of alveolar bone loss (ABL) around the second molar was performed in standardized digital photographs. Statistical analysis was conducted using paired t-test, one-way ANOVA and occurrence of spontaneous periodontal disease (ABL ≥ 0.39 mm) was analyzed by Fisher's exact test. Significant differences in body weight were observed between all groups. Group 2 presented higher body weight as compared to the 3 other groups at 4 weeks (p≤0.05). Mean ABL values were 0.31 mm (±0.08), 0.29 mm (±0.07), 0.33 mm (±0.10), and 0.33 mm (±0.08) for groups 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. No significant differences were found among groups. In the analysis of occurrence of periodontal breakdown, alcohol exposure decreased the occurrence of ABL and cigarette exposure increased ABL. The combination of alcohol and cigarette exposure did not differ from the control group. Alcohol consumption decreased the occurrence of periodontal breakdown, while tobacco increased this rate.

Effects of simultaneous nicotine and alcohol use in periodontitis progression in rats: A histomorphometric study

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of alcohol and nicotine, when used alone or simultaneously, on the alveolar bone loss area resulting from ligature-induced periodontitis in rats.

STUDY DESIGN

Forty adult male rats received a cotton ligature in the first lower molar sulcular area, and the animals were randomly assigned to different treatments (n = 10, each group) including daily peritoneal injections of saline solution (group A), submitted to self-administration of alcohol 25% (group B), nicotine solution in concentration 0.19 μl/ml (group C), and nicotine solution in concentration 0.19 μl/ml plus self-administration of alcohol 25% (group D). Five weeks later, the animals were sacrificed, and the samples were routinely processed for semi-serial decalcified sections.

RESULTS

Ligated teeth showed more alveolar bone loss than unligated ones (p < 0.05). Unligated teeth showed no significant differences between each other (p > 0.05). Analyses between the ligated teeth showed that the group C (nicotine) or group B (alcohol 25%) each had increasing alveolar bone loss in the furcation area, and the simultaneous combination alcohol and nicotine (group D) intensified these effects (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that the simultaneous combination of alcohol and nicotine have a synergistic effect in the progression of periodontitis, evidenced by increased furcation region bone destruction in periodontal disease in rats. Key words:Alveolar bone loss, periodontitis, nicotine, alcohol, rats.

Inhibition of CYP2E1 attenuates chronic alcohol intake-induced myocardial contractile dysfunction and apoptosis

Alcohol intake is associated with myocardial contractile dysfunction and apoptosis although the precise mechanism is unclear. This study was designed to examine the effect of the cytochrome P450 enzyme CYP2E1 inhibition on ethanol-induced cardiac dysfunction. Adult male mice were fed a 4% ethanol liquid or pair-fed control diet for 6weeks. Following 2weeks of diet feeding, a cohort of mice started to receive the CYP2E1 inhibitor diallyl sulfide (100mg/kg/d, i.p.) for the remaining feeding duration. Cardiac function was assessed using echocardiographic and IonOptix systems. Western blot analysis was used to evaluate CYP2E1, heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), iNOS, the intracellular Ca(2+) regulatory proteins sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase, Na(+)Ca(2+) exchanger and phospholamban, pro-apoptotic protein cleaved caspase-3, Bax, c-Jun-NH(2)-terminal kinase (JNK) and apoptosis signal-regulating kinase (ASK-1). Ethanol led to elevated levels of CYP2E1, iNOS and phospholamban, decreased levels of HO-1 and Na(+)Ca(2+) exchanger, cardiac contractile and intracellular Ca(2+) defects, cardiac fibrosis, overt O(2)(-) production, and apoptosis accompanied with increased phosphorylation of JNK and ASK-1, the effects were significantly attenuated or ablated by diallyl sulfide. Inhibitors of JNK and ASK-1 but not HO-1 inducer or iNOS inhibitor obliterated ethanol-induced cardiomyocyte contractile dysfunction, substantiating a role for JNK and ASK-1 signaling in ethanol-induced myocardial injury. Taken together, these findings suggest that ethanol metabolism through CYP2E1 may contribute to the pathogenesis of alcoholic cardiomyopathy including myocardial contractile dysfunction, oxidative stress and apoptosis, possibly through activation of JNK and ASK-1 signaling.

Long-term treatment with methanandamide attenuates LPS-induced periodontitis in rats

OBJECTIVE

Evidence exists of the anti-inflammatory and immunological properties of endocannabinoids in various tissues; the aim of the present study was therefore to assess the effect of long-term treatment with the synthetic cannabinoid methanandamide (Meth-AEA) on the progression of periodontitis in rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Periodontitis was induced by injecting LPS (1 mg/ml) into the gingiva around the neck of the first upper and lower molars, and into the inter-dental space between the first and second molars. This protocol was repeated for 6 weeks on days 1, 3, and 5 of each week.

RESULTS

Long-term treatment with topical Meth-AEA (500 ng/ml), applied daily to gingival tissue of rats induced with periodontitis, significantly diminished the alveolar bone loss, measured as the distance between the cemento-enamel junction and the alveolar crest, in both maxillary and mandibular first molars, compared to rats without treatment (P < 0.05). The treatment also reduced the production of some biological mediators of periodontal disease augmented by LPS, such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (from 119.4 ± 9.9 pg/mg protein to 75.1 ± 10.8, P < 0.05) and nitric oxide produced by inducible nitric oxide synthase (from 507.7 ± 107.1 pmol/min/mg protein to 163.1 ± 53.9, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

These results demonstrate the beneficial effects of treatment with Meth-AEA on gingival tissue of rats with periodontitis.