The pleotropic role of statins: Could it be the imminent host modulation agent in periodontics?

• Main Authors: Harpreet Singh Grover (Author), Shailly Luthra (Author), Shruti Maroo (Author), Niteeka Maroo (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications, 2013-01-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 1735-3327; 2008-0255; 10.4103/1735-3327.113319
• Keywords: Anti-inflammatory; host modulation; immunomodulation; osseo-modulatory; periodontics; statins; Dentistry; RK1-715
• Source: Dental Research Journal, Vol 10, Iss 2, Pp 143-148 (2013)

Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory disease which represents a primarily anaerobic Gram-negative oral infection that results in gingival inflammation, loss of attachment, bone destruction. Bacterial endotoxins in the form of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) that are instrumental in generating a host-mediated tissue destructive immune response by mobilizing their defensive cells and releasing cytokines like Interleukin-1β (IL-1β), Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α), and Interleukin-6 (IL-6), which lead to tissue destruction by stimulating the production of the collagenolytic enzymes: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Since the host-mediated tissue destruction is to be controlled, various means have been employed for modulating this response. Statins, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutarylcoenzyme A (HMG CoA) reductase inhibitors, besides having lipid-lowering abilities also have antioxidant, antithrombotic, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and osteomodulatory properties . All of these pleiotropic effects of statins point out to it perhaps becoming the novel host modulation agent in periodontics.