Immunological study of orthodontically treated patients recovering from COVID-19 in Babylon Province, Iraq

Abstract

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to examine the levels of the toll-like receptors TLR4 and TLR2 in the blood and saliva of patients with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) receiving orthodontic care in Babylon Province. Materials and Methods: Sixty serum and saliva samples were collected and divided into three groups of 20 patients: patients with COVID-19 who did not receive orthodontic treatment (group 1); patients with COVID-19 who received orthodontic treatment (group 2); and patients with COVID-19 who received orthodontic treatment and recovered (group 3). Thirty samples of serum and saliva from healthy outpatient clinics comprised the control group. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to determine the result. Results: TLR4 levels in saliva increased in all experimental groups (1–3) as compared with the control group. However, only COVID-19 patients and orthodontic patients in group 2 had elevated blood levels of TLR4, whereas the levels were reduced in the other two groups (1 and 3). All experimental groups showed an increase in TLR2 levels in saliva relative to the control group. In the first and second experimental groups, serum TLR2 concentrations increased dramatically, whereas they declined in the third group. There was no correlation between TLR4 and TLR2 in either group of patients. The concentrations of TLR4 and TLR2 in saliva were higher in the experimental groups than in the control group.