HLA-B27 Transgenic Rats Are Susceptible to Accelerated Alveolar Bone Loss

Background: HLA-B27 transgenic rats exhibit generalized, severe inflammatory reactions and spontaneously develop arthritis and chronic gastrointestinal inflammation, as well as inflammatory lesions in other tissues. Our hypothesis was that HLA-B27 rats would also be susceptible to inflammatory periodontal disease, and therefore alveolar bone loss. The purpose of this investigation was to compare the naturally occurring alveolar bone loss in HLA-B27 and wild type rats. Methods: Age- and sex-matched HLA-B27 transgenic (TG) and wild type Fischer 344 (WT) female retired breeders, and their age-matched male WT breeding mates, were examined for alveolar bone loss (ABL). Thirty-eight animals were used: twelve, 20, and 6 animals were 6, 8, and 12 months old, respectively. ABL was measured as the exposed root surface area (mm2) in the defleshed maxilla and mandible. Results: The coefficient of variation for replicate ABL measurements was 4.4%. For the 6- and 8-month age groups, ABL was significantly greater in TG ...