miRNA as predictors of dental implant success: clinical analysis using microarray

Aim: The aim of the present study is to investigate the correlation between miRNA expression in the implant site and the clinical outcomes of dental implants. Material and methods: 9 patients (5 females, 4 males; mean age 61.5 years) that needed at least one implant were enrolled. In the first 7 patients, bone and soft tissue samples were collected at the time of implant placement (T0); 3 months after surgery (T3) soft tissue and peri-implant crevicular fluid (PICF) samples were collected. 3 and 6 months (T6) after surgery, bone resorption (BR), bleeding on probing (BOP), plaque index (PI), and probing depth (PD) were reordered. MiRNAs have been extracted and bone-derived miRNAs have been analysed through microarray for the first time ever in implant dentistry. Results: At T6 the following mean values were recorded: BR 0.88 ± 0.51 mm; PI 1.56 ± 1.94 (44%); BOP 0.44 ± 1.33 (13%); PD 1.75 ± 0.25 mm. 5 of the 7 bone samples were analyzed; in fact, one was excluded because it was not possible to extract a sufficient number of miRNAs and another presented outlier values. The biostatistical analysis found 864 miRNAs up- and down-regulated. Whereof 12 were significantly deregulated in case of augmented bone resorption and 133 were significantly deregulated for altered BOP. Conclusion: A significant statistical correlation was found (p-value <0.05) between miRNAs extracted from bone at T0, bone resorption and peri-implant mucositis at 6 months. The results of the present preliminary study suggest that miRNAs may be predictors of dental implants clinical outcomes and may be used as biomarkers for diagnostic and prognostic purposes in implant dentistry.