Un equipo interdisciplinario e internacional de investigadores, liderado por María Luisa Mizgier académica de la Facultad de Odontología, desarrolló un estudio que explora cómo las vesículas extracelulares —pequeñas partículas liberadas por células y bacterias— presentes en el fluido crevicular gingival, el líquido que se encuentra entre la encía y el diente, podrían relacionarse con la periodontitis y […]
An interdisciplinary and international team of researchers, led by María Luisa Mizgier , an academic from the School of Dentistry, conducted a study that explores how extracellular vesicles—small particles released by cells and bacteria—present in the gingival crevicular fluid (the liquid found between the gum and the tooth) could be related to periodontitis and gestational diabetes in pregnant women.
“The research analyzed the content of these vesicles to better understand how they might contribute to inflammation, glucose regulation, and insulin response,"explains the researcher, María Luisa Mizgier.
The objective was to characterize extracellular vesicles in pregnant women with periodontitis and gestational diabetes, compared to healthy pregnant women, by identifying molecules of both human and bacterial origin, in order to elucidate the biological mechanisms that may explain the connection between periodontal health and metabolic alterations in pregnancy.
The findings show that oral health directly influences maternal and metabolic health."This gingival fluid contains signals that connect oral health with glucose control in pregnancy, which opens the door to detecting gestational diabetes risks in a simple and non-invasive way,"adds Mizgier. As she highlighted, this analysis could facilitate early diagnoses and preventive strategies that integrate oral and systemic health, positioning periodontitis as a risk factor with both maternal and fetal impact.
The study included 104 pregnant women cared for at the San Bernardo Health Center (CESA) and the Clinic of Universidad de los Andes. The research involved the collaboration of researchers in dentistry, medicine, and obstetrics, with the participation of universities in Chile, Spain, the United States, and Singapore.