Effects of a high-cholesterol diet on cell behavior in rat periodontitis

Studies have shown an association between periodontitis and serum cholesterol levels. We hypothesized that high dietary cholesterol could influence periodontitis as a result of proliferation of the junctional epithelium. Rats were divided into 4 groups. Two groups were fed a regular diet, and 2 groups were fed a high-cholesterol diet. One of each dietary group was treated with periodontitis-inducing agents (lipopolysaccharide and proteases), while the other was treated with pyrogen-free water. Feeding rats with a high-cholesterol diet induced an increase in blood total cholesterol and a decrease in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Proliferation of the junctional epithelium with increasing bone resorption was promoted by the consumption of a high-cholesterol diet. High dietary cholesterol further increased the cell-proliferative activity of the junctional epithelium induced by lipopolysaccharide and proteases. These results suggest that high dietary cholesterol can initiate and augment periodontitis in the rat periodontitis model.