Grant: Project Grant

Periodontitis, or gum disease, is a very common infection of the mouth that causes chronically inflamed gum tissues and tooth loss. Periodontitis also increases the risk for serious diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. During periodontal infection, the immune cells that circulate in our bloodstream release signaling molecules known as cytokines. Some cytokines aggravate disease by driving up inflammation. The goal of this grant application is to study blood platelets, which are normally known as cells that control blood coagulation (clotting). However, platelets also release cytokines that contribute to inflammation. We will focus our studies on a specific cytokine called platelet factor 4 (PF4), and determine exactly how PF4 increases the "inflammatory" behaviour of other cells around the teeth and in the gum tissues. This information will give us a better idea of how platelets drive inflammation and may eventually lead to improved treatments for many chronic inflammatory diseases including arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and periodontitis.