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Updated: Jun 25, 2026
Isolation, Processing and Analysis of Murine Gingival Cells
Published on: July 2, 2013
Age-dependent differential expression of apoptosis markers in the gingival tissue
Padmalaya Das1, Mani Chopra, Yao Sun
1Department of Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M Health Science Center Baylor College of Dentistry, 3302 Gaston Avenue, Dallas, TX 75246, United States.
Objective:
The current study was performed to test the hypothesis that periodontal disease produces age-dependent activation of apoptotic markers in the gingival tissues.
Methods:
To address the hypothesis a prospective experimental study was designed and twenty-two patients were enrolled. Out of the twenty-two patients, gingival tissue biopsies samples were obtained from active sites of ten and twelve periodontal-healthy (HS) and periodontal disease (PD, probing depths >5mm patients, respectively. The groups were further divided into 25-50 and <5 years age subgroups.
Results:
A significant decrease in the expression of TRADD (Tumour Necrosis Factor Receptor-Associated Death Domain) was observed in 25-50 years of PD group compared to the HS group. Bax (BCL(2)-associated X protein) expression in the PD groups was significantly decreased in PD 25-50 years age group but increased in the >50 years age group compared to respective HS age groups. PD patients of both 25-50 years and >50 years age exhibited a significant increase in the expression of Cytochrome C and Caspase-3 compared to the respective HS groups. The PD patients exhibited a stronger correlation with age in the expression of TRADD and Bax compared to the HS groups. Further analyses revealed that the expression of Caspase-3 correlated with an increase in the age of the healthy patients.
Conclusions:
The data suggested that modulation of apoptotic cascade may contribute to the damage of gingival tissues particularly in PD patients >50 years age.
