Torbjørn Jarle Breivik (Dr. odont., PhD)

Dentist in Ålesund, Norway

Associated Researcher

Norwegian Defence Research Establishment

Division of Protection, Kjeller, Norway

and

Department of Periodontology

Faculty of Dentistry

University of Oslo, Norway

Phone: +47 70 12 12 21
Fax: +47 70 12 40 03
E-mail: tbreivik@odont.uio.no
Web: http://folk.uio.no/tbreivik
Postal address: Torbjørn Jarle Breivik
Skaregt. 3
6002 Ålesund
Norway

Brain-Neuro-Endocrine-Immune Interactions In Periodontal Health and Disease (Periodontitis).

My research interest concerns how the brain regulates immune system responses controlling the collonization of pathogenic dental plaque microorganisms in gingival pockets via autonomic nervous and hormonal systems, and the significance of genetically determined and environmentally-induced differences in the reactivity of these overarching immuno-regulatory systems for resistance and susceptibility to periodontal  disease (periodontitis).

Periodontitis is a tissue destructive inflammatory condition of the tooth supporting tissues (the periodontium) that may lead to tooth loss in the most severe cases. The disease is most likely induced by toxic oxygen metabolites and enzymes released from immune cells belonging to the innate immune system, when they fight and destroy pathogenic dental plaque microorganisms infecting the gingival tissues. The increased collonization of pathogenic microorganisms in subgingival dental plaque I suggest is the consequence of an dysregulated or missguided specific adaptive immune response.

The background for my research is clinical observations and epidemiological studies showing that genetics and environmental factors, such as cigarette smoking, poorly regulated diabetes mellitus, negative life events such as the loss of a spouse by death, poorly developed psychological coping strategies to manage negative life experiences, as well as severe anxiety and major depression of the melancholic type, significantly increase the risk of developing severe periodontitis.

Our research findings indicate that genetically determined and environmentally-induced dysregulation of central nervous system mechanisms involved in peripheral immune regulation, including those induced by nicotine in cigarette smoke through chronic activation of the cholinergic nervous system, emotional stress through chronic activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the sympathetic nervous system (which together comprise the stress response system), and insulin deficiency or poorly regulated diabetes through chronic activation of the HPA axis, may play important roles in determining specific adaptive immune responses controlling the growth of subgingival pathogenic dental plaque microorganisms and the risk for developing periodontitis. Our research  suggests that periodontitis may be a disease caused by dysfunction of  overarching immunoregulatory mechanisms controlled by the brain.

Published articles:

Breivik T, Gundersen Y, Gjermo P, Opstad PK. (2013) Chronic treatment with the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist RU486 inhibits diabetes-induced enhancement of experimental preiodontitis. Journal of Periodontal Research. In press

 

Breivik T, Gundersen Y, Gjermo P, Taylor SM, Woodruff TM, Opstad PK. (2011) Oral treatment with complement factor C5a receptor (CD88) antagonists inhibits experimental periodontitis in rats.Journal of Periodontal Research  46, 643-647.

 

Breivik, T., Gundersen, Y., R., Gjermo, P., Fristad, I. & Opstad, P. K. (2011) Systemic Chemical desensitization of peptodergic sensory neurons with resiniferatoxin inhibits experimental periodontitis. The Open Dentistry Journal 5, 1-6.

Breivik, T., Gundersen, Y., R., Gjermo, P., von Hörsten, S. & Opstad, P. K. (2009) Nicotine acetylcholine receptor activation mediates nicotine-induced enhancement of experimental periodontitis. Journal of Periodontal Research 44, 297-304.

Breivik, T., Gundersen, Y., Myhrer, T., Fonnum, F. Osmundsen, H.,. Murison, R., Gjermo, P., von Hörsten, S. & Opstad, P. K. (2006) Enhanced susceptibility to periodontitis in an animal model of depression: reversed by chronic treatment with the antidepressant tianeptine. Journal of Clinical Periodontology 33, 469-477.

Breivik, T., Gundersen, Y., Osmundsen, H., Fonnum, F. & Opstad, P. K. (2006) Neonatal dexamathasone and chronic tianeptine treatment inhibit ligature-induced periodontitis in adult rats. Journal of Periodontal Research 41, 23-32.

Breivik, T. Psyke og periodontal helse (Norwegian). Odontology 2006 pp. 37-55.

Breivik, T., Gundersen, Y., Opstad, P. K., & Fonnum, F. (2005) Chemical sympathectomy inhibits periodontal disease in Fischer 344 rats. Journal of Periodontal Research 40, 325-330.

Breivik, T., Opstad, P. K. Engstad, R., Gundersen, G., Gjermo, P. & Preus, H. (2005) Soluble beta-1,3/1,6-glucan from yeast inhibits experimental periodontal disease in Wistar rats. Journal of Clinical Periodontology 32, 347-352.

Breivik, T., Gundersen, Y., Fonnum, F., Vaagnes, P. & Opstad, P. K. (2005) Chronic glycine treatment inhibits ligature-induced periodontal disease in Wistar rats. Journal of Periodontal Research 40, 43-47.

Breivik, T., Gundersen, Y., Osmundsen, H., Opstad, P. K.,. & Fonnum, F. (2005) Chronic treatment with the glutamate receptor antagonist MK-801 alters periodontal disease susceptibility. Journal of Periodontal Research, 40, 28-35.

Gundersen, Y., Vaagenes, P., Breivik, T., Fonnum, E. & Opstad, P.K. (2005) Glycine--an important neurotransmitter and cytoprotective agent. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 49, 1108-16. Review.

Breivik, T. Plakkbakteriene er neppe den primære årsak til periodontal sykdom (Norwegian). Nor Tannlegeforen Tid 2004;114:152-153.

Breivik, T. Utviklingen av periodontitt reguleres av sentralnervesytemet (Norwegian). NTFs Tidende 2003; 113:178-182.

Breivik, T. Rook GA. Oral treatment with SRP299 (killed Mycobacterium vaccae) inhibits experimental periodontal disease in Wistar rats. J Clin Periodontol. 2003;30:931-936

Stephan, M., Straub, RH., Breivik, T., Pabst, R., von Hörsten, S. Postnatal maternal deprivation aggravates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in adult Lewis rats: reversal by chronicimipramine treatment. Int J Devel Neuroscience 2002;20:125-132.

Sluyter, F., Breivik, T., Cools, A. (2002) Manipulation in the maternal environment reverse genetically predisposed periodontitis in rats. Clin Diagn Lab Immunol.4, 931-932.

Breivik, T., Thrane, P. S., Gjermo, P., Cools, A. & Myhrer, T. (2002) Effects of hippocampal lesioning on experimental periodontal disease in Wistar rats. Journal of Periodontal Research 37, 360-365

Breivik, T., Stephan, M., Brabant, G. E., Straub, R. H., Pabst, R. & von Horsten, S. (2002) Postnatal lipopolysaccharide-induced illness predisposes to periodontal disease in adulthood. Brain, Behavior and Immunity 16, 421-438.

Hugoson A, Ljungquist B, Breivik, T. (2002) The relationship of some negative events and psychological factors to periodontal disease in an adult Swedish population 50-80 yars of age. J Clin Periodontol, 29, 247-253.

Breivik, T. and Rook GAW. (2002) Treatment with SRL 172 (heat-killed Mycobacterium vaccae) inhibits progression of established experimental periodontal disease in Wistar rats. J Period Res 37, 210-214.

Breivik, T., Thrane, P.S., Gjermo, P. & Fonnum, F. (2001) Postnatal glutamate-induced central nervous system lesions alter periodontal disease susceptibility in adult Wistar rats. Journal of Clinical Periodontology 28:904-909.

Breivik, T., Thrane, P. S., Gjermo, P., Opstad, P. K., Pabst, R. & von Horsten, S. (2001) Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activation by experimental periodontal disease in rats. Journal of Periodontal Research 36, 295-300.

Breivik, T. & Thrane, P. S. (2001) Psychoneuroimmune interactions in periodontal disease. In Psychneuroimmunology. eds. R. Ader, L. Felten & N. Cohen. 3. edition, San Diego, CA: Academic Press, chapter 63, pp 627-644.

Breivik, T., Thrane, P. S., Gjermo, P. & Opstad, P. K. (2000) Glucocorticoid receptor antagonist RU-486 treatment reduces periodontitis in Fischer 344 rats. Journal of Periodontal Research 35, 285-290.

Breivik, T. and Rook GAW. Prevaccination with SRL 172 (heat-killed Mycobacterium vaccae) inhibits experimental periodontal disease in Wistar rats. Clin Exp Immunol, 2000; 120: 463-467.

Breivik, T., Sluyter, F., Hof, M. & Cools, A. (2000) Differential susceptibility to periodontitis in genetically selected Wistar rat lines that differ in their behavioral and endocrinological response to stressors. Behavior Genetics 30, 123-130.

Breivik, T., Opstad, P. K., Gjermo, P. & Thrane, P. S. (2000) Effects of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis reactivity on periodontal tissue destruction in rats. European Journal of Oral Science 108, 115-122.

Breivik, T., Thrane, P. S., Murison, R. & Gjermo, P. (1996) Emotional stress effects on immunity, gingivitis and periodontitis. European Journal of Oral Sciences 104, 327-334.

Breivik, T., Thrane, PS., Murison, B. Gjermo, P. (1996) Følelsesmessige belastninger og periodontitt (Norwegian).Nor Tannlegeforen Tid., 106, 582-587.