IADR Abstract Archives
Immunoglobulin Free Light Chains in Periodontal Inflammation and Health
Objectives: Free light chains (FLCs) are circulating unbound immunoglobulin light chains released during plasma cell activation. Recent evidence suggests that elevated plasma FLC levels can serve as a biomarker of systemic inflammation. Two types of FLCs are produced in humans, kappa (κ) and lambda (λ). Periodontitis results from an exaggerated immune-inflammatory response to periodontal pathogens and active lesions are plasma cell rich. The aim of this study was to investigate plasma FLC levels in periodontal inflammation and health, and their presence in inflamed and healthy gingival tissue sections.
Methods: Plasma was obtained from 104 chronic periodontitis patients at baseline and three-months following non-surgical periodontal treatment and from 182 periodontally and systemically healthy controls. κ and λ FLCs were measured by immunoassays. Cystatin C levels were measured to ensure normal renal function, and therefore physiological FLC clearance. Furthermore, gingival tissue biopsies (healthy and inflamed sections) were stained for κ and λ FLCs by immunohistochemistry.
Results: Cystatin C levels were low in control and periodontitis arms, demonstrating renal sufficiency. After adjusting for age, periodontitis patients exhibited elevated FLC λ concentrations and a lower κ/λ ratio than controls, both prior to and following treatment. All FLC concentrations were within “normal“ physiological ranges, however, periodontal therapy was associated with statistically significant reductions in FLC λ. Moreover, κ and λ FLCs were located predominantly in the connective tissue papillae of inflamed gingival tissue sections, but were rarely present in healthy control tissues.
Conclusions: These results suggest that FLCs are more abundant in inflamed gingival tissues than in healthy tissues, from where they may enter the systemic circulation. Despite plasma FLCs being within normal ranges, significantly higher λ FLCs were found in the plasma of periodontitis patients, which may reflect sub-clinical elevations in the systemic inflammatory burden. Periodontal therapy, however, could help to restore FLC ratios and levels.
Methods: Plasma was obtained from 104 chronic periodontitis patients at baseline and three-months following non-surgical periodontal treatment and from 182 periodontally and systemically healthy controls. κ and λ FLCs were measured by immunoassays. Cystatin C levels were measured to ensure normal renal function, and therefore physiological FLC clearance. Furthermore, gingival tissue biopsies (healthy and inflamed sections) were stained for κ and λ FLCs by immunohistochemistry.
Results: Cystatin C levels were low in control and periodontitis arms, demonstrating renal sufficiency. After adjusting for age, periodontitis patients exhibited elevated FLC λ concentrations and a lower κ/λ ratio than controls, both prior to and following treatment. All FLC concentrations were within “normal“ physiological ranges, however, periodontal therapy was associated with statistically significant reductions in FLC λ. Moreover, κ and λ FLCs were located predominantly in the connective tissue papillae of inflamed gingival tissue sections, but were rarely present in healthy control tissues.
Conclusions: These results suggest that FLCs are more abundant in inflamed gingival tissues than in healthy tissues, from where they may enter the systemic circulation. Despite plasma FLCs being within normal ranges, significantly higher λ FLCs were found in the plasma of periodontitis patients, which may reflect sub-clinical elevations in the systemic inflammatory burden. Periodontal therapy, however, could help to restore FLC ratios and levels.