Carvedilol decrease IL-1β and TNF-α, inhibits MMP-2, MMP-9, COX-2, and RANKL expression, and up-regulates OPG in a rat model of periodontitis

PLoS One. 2013 Jul 3;8(7):e66391. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0066391. Print 2013.

Abstract

Periodontal diseases are initiated primarily by Gram-negative, tooth-associated microbial biofilms that elicit a host response that causes osseous and soft tissue destruction. Carvedilol is a β-blocker used as a multifunctional neurohormonal antagonist that has been shown to act not only as an anti-oxidant but also as an anti-inflammatory drug. This study evaluated whether Carvedilol exerted a protective role against ligature-induced periodontitis in a rat model and defined how Carvedilol affected metalloproteinases and RANKL/RANK/OPG expression in the context of bone remodeling. Rats were randomly divided into 5 groups (n = 10/group): (1) non-ligated (NL), (2) ligature-only (LO), and (3) ligature plus Carvedilol (1, 5 or 10 mg/kg daily for 10 days). Periodontal tissue was analyzed for histopathlogy and using immunohistochemical analysis characterized the expression profiles of MMP-2, MMP-9, COX-2, and RANKL/RANK/OPG and determined the presence of IL-1β, IL-10 and TNF-α, myeloperoxidase (MPO), malonaldehyde (MDA) and, glutathione (GSH). MPO activity in the group with periodontal disease was significantly increased compared to the control group (p<0.05). Rats treated with 10 mg/kg Carvedilol presented with significantly reduced MPO and MDA concentrations (p<0.05) in addition to presenting with reduced levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1 β and TNF-α (p<0.05). IL-10 levels in Carvedilol-treated rats remained unaltered. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated reduced expression of MMP-2, MMP-9, RANK, RANKL, COX-2, and OPG in rats treated with 10 mg/kg Carvedilol. This study demonstrated that Carvedilol affected bone formation/destruction and anti-inflammatory activity in a rat model of periodontitis.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carbazoles / administration & dosage
  • Carbazoles / pharmacology*
  • Carvedilol
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 / metabolism*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Interleukin-1beta / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / metabolism*
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / metabolism*
  • Osteoprotegerin / metabolism*
  • Oxidative Stress
  • Periodontitis / genetics
  • Periodontitis / metabolism*
  • Periodontitis / pathology
  • Propanolamines / administration & dosage
  • Propanolamines / pharmacology*
  • RANK Ligand / metabolism*
  • Rats
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism*

Substances

  • Carbazoles
  • Interleukin-1beta
  • Osteoprotegerin
  • Propanolamines
  • RANK Ligand
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Carvedilol
  • Cyclooxygenase 2
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 2
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 9

Grants and funding

The authors have no support or funding to report