Effect of Oral Administration Involving a Probiotic Strain of Lactobacillus reuteri on Pro-Inflammatory Cytokine Response in Patients with Chronic Periodontitis

This study aimed at evaluation of pro-inflammatory cytokine response (TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta and IL-17) in patients with chronic periodontitis administered per os with a probiotic strain of Lactobacillus reuteri. In the 38 adult patients with moderate chronic periodontitis, professional cleaning of teeth was performed. Two weeks after performing the oral hygienization procedures, clinical examination permitted to distinguish a group of 24 patients (Group 1) in whom treatment with probiotic tablets containing L. reuteri strain, producing hydrogen peroxide (Prodentis), was conducted. In the remaining 14 patients, no probiotic tablet treatment was applied (the control group; Group 2). From all patients in two terms, gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) was sampled from all periodontal pockets. Estimation of TNF-alpha, IL-l beta and IL-17 in GCF was performed using the ELISA method. After completion of the therapy with probiotic tablets, 18 (75 %) of the patients of Group 1 have manifested a significant decrease in levels of studied pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta and IL-17). In parallel, we have detected an improvement of clinical indices [sulcus bleeding index (SBI), periodontal probing depth (PPD), clinical attachment level (CAL)]. At individuals of Group 2 levels of studies, pro-inflammatory cytokines and clinical indices (SBI, PPD, CAL) were significantly higher than in Group 1. Results obtained in this study indicate that application of oral treatment with tablets containing probiotic strain of L. reuteri induces in most patients with chronic periodontitis a significant reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokine response and improvement of clinical parameters (SBI, PPD, CAL). Therefore, such an effect may result in a reduced activity of the morbid process.