Ceramids as biomarkers of chronic periodontitis associated with type 2 diabetes

Relevance . The association of chronic periodontitis with type 2 diabetes mellitus is one of the most frequent manifestations of systemic effects that are etiologically associated with periodontopathogenic bacteria in the biofilm of the gingival sulcus. In this regard, the study of the metabolic mechanisms leading to such systemic effects and serving their markers is an urgent problem. Aim . Study of the features of sphingolipid/ceramide metabolism, both produced by etiologically significant microflora, and present in periodontal tissues of patients on the example of the association of chronic periodontitis with type 2 diabetes. Materials and methods . The observation groups included 58 patients with chronic periodontitis in association with type 2 diabetes, 39 patients with chronic periodontitis without concomitant systemic pathology, and 27 conditionally healthy people. All the examined patients underwent molecular genetic studies of the taxonomic and metabolic profiles of the dental sulcus/ periodontal pockets microbiota using 16S sequencing and evaluation of phosphorylated ceramides in saliva by the activity of the ceramid kinase enzyme. Results . It was found that in the Association of chronic periodontitis with type 2 diabetes mellitus, there are features of the taxonomic composition of the dental sulcus/periodontal pockets microbiota, which are combined with a decrease in sphingolipid metabolism. In addition, in these patients, depending on the duration of diabetes mellitus, there was an increasing drop in the saliva of ceramide kinase, which determines the phosphorylation of sphingolipids/ceramides. Conclusion . In the Association of chronic periodontitis with type 2 diabetes mellitus, the systemic effects of the dental sulcus/ periodontal pockets microbiota are manifested by a decrease in sphingolipid metabolism, including a decrease in ceramide kinase in periodontal tissues, which can serve as a marker of the combined pathological process.