A new approach to understanding the role of gasotransmitters in the development of chronic generalized periodontitis

Relevance. Recent studies investigating the role of the microbial gaseous substances (O2, N2, CO2, CH4, NO, CO, H2S) indicate not only in the regulation of the host's metabolic activity and the functioning of its nervous system, in particular but also their participation the pathogenesis of some diseases. However, there is scarce data in the national and international literature on the production of gas signaling molecules by the oral microbiota (Streptococcus spp. and Staphylococcus spp.) and the changes in the gas composition during the development of chronic inflammatory periodontal diseases.Material and methods. The study included 69 people. The main group included 36 patients aged 35 to 67 years with clinically confirmed moderate chronic generalized periodontitis. The control group included 33 patients aged 27 to 55 without periodontal disease. The samples from the back of the tongue were the study material. The gas chromatography determined the production of gas signaling molecules using the Khromatek-crystal 5000.2 device. The measurement of the amount of released gases was in % (for O2, N2) and ppm (0.001 mg/mL) for other gas molecules (CO2, CH4, NO, CO, H2S).Results. The metabolic activity of streptococci only for the production of NO (p = 0.002) and CO (p = 0.008) appeared to have a statistically significant difference. In periodontal inflammation, there was practically no NO emission by Streptococci spp., and the concentration of CO was ten times higher than in the group of healthy individuals. The difference in the number of other signaling gas molecules was not statistically significant (p > 0.05) in healthy people and patients with chronic generalized periodontitis. In the production of gasotransmitters among Staphylococcus spp., N2 production (p = 0.007, increasing in the comparison group) was statistically significantly different. As in the streptococcal sampling, the amount of CO significantly increased in periodontal inflammation. Certain species of staphylococci showed a significant decrease in the production of the entire gas molecule range in the main group. At the same time, unlike Streptococcus spp., Staphylococcus spp. absorbed a much higher amount of nitric oxide in chronic periodontitis.Conclusion. In patients with chronic generalized periodontitis and inflammation, the oral microbiota is poorly active and produces a low concentration of gasotransmitters, so they cannot participate in inflammatory process reduction, thereby contributing to the progression of the disease.