[The relationship between chronic periodontitis and the instability of carotid atherosclerotic plaque by serum level of MMP-9, MCP-1 and MMP-7].

PURPOSE: To study the serum level of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), matrix metalloproteinase-7(MMP-7) and monocyte chemo attractant protein-1(MCP-1) in patients with chronic periodontitis in whom the stability of carotid atherosclerotic plaque is affected. METHODS: One hundred and twenty-nine patients were collected from People's Hospital of Liaoning Province, and divided into 3 groups. Group A (healthy group): 32 cases; Group B (periodontitis group): 31 cases; Group C (periodontitis with carotid atherosclerosis plaque group): 66 cases. According to carotid atherosclerotic plaque stability, Group C was further divided into carotid atherosclerotic plaque stable subgroup (C1, 30 cases) and unstable subgroup (C2, 36 cases). Each patient received periodontal examination, and serum levels of MMP-9, MMP-7, MCP-1 were assayed by ELISA. The data was statistically analyzed with SPSS19.0 software package. RESULTS: The age, gender, drinking and smoking history in each group had no significant difference (P>0.05). The periodontal baseline status in group B was worse than group A, in group C was worse than group B and in group C2 was worse than group C1, and the differences were significant (P<0.05). Serum level of MMP-9, MCP-1 and MMP-7 in group C was significantly higher than in group B and group A (P<0.05), and in group B were significantly higher than group A (P<0.05), in group C2 was significantly higher than in group C1 (P<0.05). Serum level of MMP-9, MCP-1 and MMP-7 were correlated with carotid atherosclerotic plaque stability (r=0.989, P<0.05; r=0.605, P<0.05; r=0.389, P<0.05, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Serum inflammatory cytokines MMP-9, MMP-7 and MCP-1 are associated with the development of periodontitis. The serum inflammatory cytokines MMP-9, MCP-1, MMP-7 as mediating factors may indicate the severity of periodontal disease and affect the stability of carotid atherosclerotic plaques.