PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY USING CHLOROALUMINUM PHTHALOCYANINE IN AN EXPERIMENTAL RAT PERIODONTAL DISEASE MODEL

Abstract

Objective The purpose of the present study was to analyze cytokine profiles after application of photodynamic therapy (PDT) in gingival tissues of rats with ligature-induced periodontal disease (PD). Study Design Periodontal disease was induced through the introduction of a cotton thread around the first left mandibular molar, while the right side molars did not receive ligatures. After 7 days of PD evolution, ligatures were removed, and animals were randomly divided into the following treatment groups: I, rats without treatment; II, rats received chloroaluminum phthalocyanine (AlClPc); III, rats received low-level laser alone; and IV, rats received AlClPc associated with low-level laser. The animals were killed 7 days after the treatments, and the mandibles were histologically processed to assess morphologic and immunohistochemical profile, while gingival tissues were removed for quantification of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL) 1 β and IL-10 expression (by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). Results Histomorphologic analysis of periodontal tissues demonstrated that PDT-treated animals show tissue necrosis as well as lower TNF-α expression compared with ligatured animals treated with AlClPc alone. Conclusions It was concluded that PDT using AlClPc entrapped in a lipid nanoemulsion may be useful in therapies because of immunomodulatory effects that decreased the inflammatory response and caused tissue destruction. The purpose of the present study was to analyze cytokine profiles after application of photodynamic therapy (PDT) in gingival tissues of rats with ligature-induced periodontal disease (PD). Periodontal disease was induced through the introduction of a cotton thread around the first left mandibular molar, while the right side molars did not receive ligatures. After 7 days of PD evolution, ligatures were removed, and animals were randomly divided into the following treatment groups: I, rats without treatment; II, rats received chloroaluminum phthalocyanine (AlClPc); III, rats received low-level laser alone; and IV, rats received AlClPc associated with low-level laser. The animals were killed 7 days after the treatments, and the mandibles were histologically processed to assess morphologic and immunohistochemical profile, while gingival tissues were removed for quantification of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL) 1 β and IL-10 expression (by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). Histomorphologic analysis of periodontal tissues demonstrated that PDT-treated animals show tissue necrosis as well as lower TNF-α expression compared with ligatured animals treated with AlClPc alone. It was concluded that PDT using AlClPc entrapped in a lipid nanoemulsion may be useful in therapies because of immunomodulatory effects that decreased the inflammatory response and caused tissue destruction.