Mechanical Periodontal Therapy Recovered the Phagocytic Function of Monocytes in Periodontitis

BACKGROUND: Several studies have focused on the association between periodontitis and systemic implications; however, the biological mechanisms of the immune responses before and after periodontal therapy involved in this relationship, such as phagocytic functions, remain unclear. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate whether periodontal treatment improves the phagocytic function of blood monocytes in patients with severe periodontitis. Materials and Methods. A nonrandomized sample of 55 participants was enrolled in the study. Two groups were studied: control (n = 27, healthy subjects without periodontal disease) and patients (n = 27, healthy subjects without periodontal disease) and patients ( RESULTS: Periodontitis induced impaired phagocytosis by monocytes. Phagocytosis at baseline was significantly lower in periodontitis patients [median, 13.2 (range of 7.1 to 20.8) and 60.7 (40.6 to 88.6)] than in controls [27.4 (15.5 to 40.5)] and 98 (68.2 to 122.9)] for nonsensitized or sensitized samples, respectively. After supportive therapy, patients showed a significant enhancement of phagocytic functions [33.7 (14.6 to 53.2) and 108.5 (99.6 to 159.5)] for nonsensitized and sensitized samples, respectively. Periodontal treatment increased the phagocytic capacity to a level similar to that observed in the control group and improved the capacity of phagocytes to produce superoxide anion. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that periodontal therapy in patients with severe periodontitis provides a state of homeostasis due to the reestablishment of phagocytic function and increased production of NBT (Regional Registry No. RBR-24T799; Universal Registry No. U1111-1133-5512).