Oxidative stress in dogs with periodontal disease: comparison of plasmatic and salivary biomarkers

Periodontal disease (PD) is the most common inflammatory disease of the oral cavity of dogs. Quantitation of plasma and salivary biomarkers have been used to assess the systemic oxidative stress (SOS) and local (LOS) of human PD. In canine PD, oxidative stress mechanisms are not well characterized and established. Our objective was to investigate the hypothesis that SOS occurs in dog PD and saliva can be used to evaluate the LOS. We also investigated the hypothesis that the activation of neutrophil oxidative metabolism contributes to SOS in dog SD. For this purpose, 20 adult dogs were selected PD patients, grouped according to the degree of injury: gingivitis (n=6), light periodontitis (n=8) and advanced periodontitis (n=6). The control group was composed of the same 20 dogs, 30 days after periodontal treatment. To assess oxidative metabolism of circulating neutrophils superoxide production was measured by test nitroblue tetrazolium reduction (NBT). The total oxidant concentrations (TOC) and reactive species to tiobartbiturico acid (TBARS) in plasma were quantified to evaluate SOS. For the evaluation of local oxidative stress were quantified salivary TOC and concentration of the main antioxidant in saliva (albumin, uric acid, and total bilirubin). EOS in dogs with PD was confirmed by increased superoxide production of circulating neutrophils, TOC, and plasma TBARS. It was possible to quantify all the biomarkers in the saliva of dogs, but none was able to express the LOS canine PD. This is the first evidence that SOS occurs in dogs with PD and that activation of the oxidative metabolism of neutrophils may contribute to an imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants. This study highlights the importance of oral hygiene of dogs to prevent PD and chronic degenerative lesions of various tissues caused by SOS.