A University of Louisville scientist discovered a way to stop the inflammation and bone loss that come from gum disease.
The researcher, David Scott, successfully accomplished this by blocking the natural signaling pathway of the enzyme GSK3b. This enzyme is a key factor in leading the immune response.
The information appears on the Internet in the journal Molecular Medicine.
This research may not only be pivotal in stopping periodontal disease but it may also be helpful when it comes to other chronic inflammatory diseases. Since GSK3b is associated with numerous inflammatory signaling pathways, it also is a factor in many other diseases. Further tests are being conducted to determine its importance in Alzheimer’s disease, Type II diabetes and some forms of cancer.
This approach differs from the normal approach in handling periodontal disease because instead of preventing plaque at the gumline, this method targets the natural mechanism to limit inflammation.
SB216763 is the enzyme that stopped the inflammation process and eventual bone loss that normally stems from GSK3b.
The next part of this study includes whether or not SB216763 has any side effects or if something else needs to be discovered to thwart GSK3b.
