Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 9, 2025
06:14
Induction of Periodontitis via a Combination of Ligature and Lipopolysaccharide Injection in a Rat Model
Published on: February 17, 2023
4.3K
CCL2-Driven Inflammation Links Periodontitis to Anxiety.
Li Liang1, Zhen Liu1, Nan Yang1
1Department of Stomatology, Eighth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.
Journal of Clinical Periodontology
|August 31, 2025
Summary
Periodontitis is linked to anxiety through the inflammatory chemokine CCL2. This study found elevated CCL2 levels in periodontitis patients and mice, contributing to anxiety-like behaviors and inflammation.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Immunology
- Periodontology
Background:
- Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting the gums and supporting structures of teeth.
- Anxiety disorders are prevalent and significantly impact quality of life.
- Emerging evidence suggests a bidirectional relationship between systemic inflammation and mental health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between periodontitis and anxiety.
- To explore the role of chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2) in mediating this relationship.
- To elucidate the underlying inflammatory mechanisms linking periodontitis and anxiety.
Main Methods:
- An analytical cross-sectional study comparing anxiety levels (Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale) and CCL2 levels in periodontitis patients and healthy controls.
- A preclinical in vivo study using a mouse model of ligature-induced periodontitis to assess anxiety-like behaviors, CCL2 levels, monocyte/macrophage infiltration, and blood-brain barrier integrity.
- Analysis of tight junction proteins and assessment of blood-brain barrier permeability.
Main Results:
- Individuals with periodontitis exhibited significantly higher anxiety levels, correlated with elevated CCL2 in blood and periodontal tissues, and increased monocyte counts.
- In the mouse model, periodontitis induced higher CCL2 expression, enhanced monocyte/macrophage infiltration in periodontal tissues and the brain, disrupted periodontal tight junctions and the blood-brain barrier, and increased anxiety-like behaviors.
- Administration of a CCL2-neutralizing antibody ameliorated anxiety-like behaviors, periodontal pathology, and inflammation.
Conclusions:
- Periodontitis is associated with anxiety.
- CCL2-mediated inflammation plays a significant role in the pathogenesis linking periodontitis and anxiety.
- Targeting CCL2 may offer a therapeutic strategy for individuals with both conditions.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Stress and Mental Health
211
Chronic stress profoundly affects mental health, significantly influencing mood, behavior, and overall quality of life. Research closely links chronic stress with mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders. Ongoing exposure to stress can lead to physiological and psychological changes, initiating a cycle of emotional distress and maladaptive coping mechanisms.
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...
211
01:18Anxiety: Overview
342
Anxiety is a common mental disorder featuring excessive worry, fear, and apprehension, significantly affecting daily life. People with anxiety disorders experience persistent and intense anxiety, interrupting their everyday functioning.
Individuals with anxiety often experience a range of physical and emotional symptoms, including sweating, trembling, tachycardia, and disturbances in sleep patterns. These symptoms vary in intensity and frequency but are generally disruptive and distressing.
Individuals with anxiety often experience a range of physical and emotional symptoms, including sweating, trembling, tachycardia, and disturbances in sleep patterns. These symptoms vary in intensity and frequency but are generally disruptive and distressing.
342
01:30Generalized Anxiety Disorder
201
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a chronic condition characterized by excessive and uncontrollable worry that persists for at least six months, significantly interfering with daily functioning. Unlike situational anxiety, which arises in response to specific stressors, GAD often occurs without a clear cause. Individuals may experience disproportionate worry about work, health, or relationships. For instance, a person might continuously fear poor health despite normal medical evaluations or...
201
01:28Social Anxiety Disorder
78
Social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia, is characterized by an intense fear of social situations where one might face humiliation, rejection, embarrassment, or negative evaluation. This disorder leads individuals to avoid activities like casual conversations, public speaking, or seemingly simple tasks such as eating, signing documents, or swimming, in public settings. Its impact extends beyond discomfort, often significantly interfering with daily functioning and quality of life.
78
01:20Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-II: Pathophysiology
3.1K
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) pathophysiology is intricate and multifaceted, involving a complex interplay of physiological processes. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for effectively managing and treating COPD. Here is an in-depth look at the critical elements in the pathophysiology of COPD:
Chronic Inflammation
Chronic Inflammation
3.1K
01:27Psychoneuroimmunology: Cardiovascular Disease
77
Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) is a multidisciplinary field that examines how psychological factors, particularly stress, interact with the immune system and impact physical health. Research in PNI has shown that chronic or traumatic stress can disrupt both the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the sympathetic nervous system. These disruptions contribute to serious health conditions, including cardiovascular diseases.
A key area of focus in PNI is the relationship between stress and coronary...
A key area of focus in PNI is the relationship between stress and coronary...
77