Experimental Arthritis in Rats Induces Biomarkers of Periodontitis Which Are Ameliorated by Gene Therapy With Tissue Inhibitor of Matrix Metalloproteinases

Abstract

To our knowledge, this is the first study to report an association between experimental systemic arthritis in rats and elevated gingival tissue MMPs, cytokine levels, and periodontal disease. Reversal of these changes with TIMP-4 gene therapy strengthens the pathophysiologic correlation between systemic and local disease.