Murine dental implants associated with dysregulated local immunity and risk of peri-implantitis

The aetiology and pathogenesis of peri-implantitis are currently under active research. This study aimed to dissect the pathogenesis of murine experimental peri-implantitis and assess Resolvin D2 as a new treatment modality.

Four weeks following titanium implant insertion, mice were infected with Porphyromonas gingivalis using single or multiple oral lavages. Resolvin D2 was administrated following infection and tissues were analyzed using flow cytometry, quantitative RT-PCR, taxonomic profiling, and micro-CT.

Results of the study:

• Repetitive infections with Porphyromonas gingivalis resulted in microbial dysbiosis and a higher influx of innate and adaptive leukocytes to the peri-implant mucosa than to the gingiva surrounding teeth.
• This was accompanied by increased expression levels of IFN-α, IL-1β, and RANKL\OPG ratio. Interestingly, whereas repetitive infections resulted in bone loss around implants and teeth, a single infection-induced bone loss only around implants, suggesting a higher susceptibility of the implants to infection.
• Treatment with Resolvin D2 prevented Porphyromonas gingivalis-driven bone loss and reduced leukocyte infiltration to the peri-implant mucosa.

Thus, murine dental implants are associated with dysregulated local immunity that increases susceptibility to pathogen-induced peri-implantitis. However, the disease can be prevented by Resolvin D2 treatment, highlighting the promising therapeutic potential of this treatment modality.

Reference:

Oded Heyman, et al. Excessive inflammatory response to infection in experimental peri-implantitis: resolution by Resolvin D2. First published: 27 June 2022. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpe.13631

Keywords:

Oded Heyman, Yael Horev, Gabriel Mizraji, Yaron Haviv, Lior Shapira, Asaf Wilensky, Excessive, inflammatory, response, infection, experimental, peri-implantitis, resolution, Resolvin D2