Cyclosporin but not tacrolimus significantly increases salivary cytokine contents in rats.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Cyclosporin (CsA) and tacrolimus (FK-506) are immunosuppressive drugs that specifically inhibit T-cell activation via calcineurin inhibition. Gingival overgrowth is a common side effect following the administration of CsA. The severity of gingival overgrowth seen in patients taking FK-506 is less than that observed with CsA. Little is known about the involvement of saliva in drug-induced gingival overgrowth. The purpose of this study was to investigate the salivary contents of tumor growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1), epidermal growth factor (EGF), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) as well as the hystometry of gingival tissue obtained from rats treated with either FK-506 or CsA.

METHODS:

For 30 or 60 days rats received daily subcutaneous injection doses of either CsA or FK-506 (10 mg/kg). The concentrations of TGF-beta1, EGF, and IL-6 in saliva were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and after histological processing, the oral epithelium and connective tissue were assessed at the region of the lower first molars.

RESULTS:

The levels of TGF-beta1, EGF, and IL-6 in saliva were not significantly altered by any of the treatments after 30 days. After 60 days of treatment with CsA, gingival overgrowth and significant increase in salivary TGF-beta1, EGF, and IL-6 concentrations were observed; no statistically significant changes were induced by FK-506.

CONCLUSION:

Within the limits of this experimental study, it can be concluded that CsA, but not FK-506, induced gingival overgrowth associated with an increase of the salivary levels of the cytokines TGF-beta1, EGF, and IL-6.

• Authors: Luís Carlos Spolidorio, Marinella Holzhausen, Denise M Palomari Spolidorio, Carlos A Nassar, Patricia O Nassar, Marcelo Nicolás Muscará
• Journal: Journal of periodontology (J Periodontol) Vol. 76 Issue 9 Pg. 1520-5 (Sep 2005) ISSN: 0022-3492 [Print] United States
• PMID: 16171442 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Cytokines
• Immunosuppressive Agents
• Interleukin-6
• Tgfb1 protein, rat
• Transforming Growth Factor beta
• Transforming Growth Factor beta1
• Epidermal Growth Factor
• Cyclosporine
• Tacrolimus

Topics

• Animals
• Cyclosporine (adverse effects)
• Cytokines (metabolism)
• Epidermal Growth Factor (analysis)
• Gingival Overgrowth (chemically induced, metabolism)
• Immunosuppressive Agents (adverse effects, pharmacology)
• Interleukin-6 (analysis)
• Male
• Rats
• Rats, Sprague-Dawley
• Saliva (metabolism)
• Tacrolimus (adverse effects)
• Transforming Growth Factor beta (analysis)
• Transforming Growth Factor beta1