Influence of cigarette smoking on synthesis of eicosanoids, isoprostanes and lipoxygenase metabolites in apical periodontitis

Abstract

Arachidonic acid (AA) is metabolized to eicosanoids and isoprostanes (IPs) via different pathways. The presence of granuloma in apical periodontitis (AP) is linked with inflammation and the synthesis of metabolites of AA. We investigated the conversion rate of 14C labelled arachidonic acid (14C-AA), the lipoxygenases (LOX) products and the endogenous synthesis of eicosanoids and IPs in extracted granuloma. Furthermore, we assessed if there are markers for bone destruction and the influence of cigarette smoking. Conclusions: Our data demonstrate that in smokers with granuloma due to AP products of lipid peroxidation as 8-iso-PGF2α and products of the LOX-pathway are increased at the expense of cyclooxygenase products. The size of granuloma did not influence the amount of synthesized eicosanoids, IPs or LOX-metabolites out of 14C-AA whereas cigarette smoking was a significantly influencing and modifiable risk factor.