Salivary levels of IL-8 in various oral diseases

Our previous investigations (Rhodus, et.al. 2001,2002,2004) have shown that the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in salivary specimens of patients with certain oral diseases are elevated. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine and compare the level of the pro-inflammatory, pro-angiogenic, NF-kappa B dependent cytokine, IL-8 in whole unstimulated saliva(WUS) in subject groups with different oral conditions. Methods: A total of 97 subjects diagnosed with various oral conditions { n= 28 primary Sjogren's syndrome(SS-1), n= 13 erosive lichen planus(ELP), n= 19 epithelial dysplasia(ED), n= 15 squamous cell carcinoma(SCC), n= 22 glossodynia( BMS) subjects }( were enrolled in the study as were 26 age-sex matched controls (C). 24 % of the subjects were smokers and 17 % had active periodontal disease. The mean age was 57.7 yrs. and 79% of subjects were female. WUS was collected by standard techniques for 5 min.(Rhodus, 1993). Samples were centrifuged and the IL-8 cytokine analysis was performed on the supernatants by ELISA as previously described by Ondrey, et.al. ( 1994). Results: The results as analyzed by Pairwise t-tests revealed increased levels of IL-8 in the subjects compared to controls. IL-8 ( SS= 15467.7±8673.4; ELP= 2194 ± 496.7; ED=1981.9 ± 909.1; SCC= 3203.9 ± 1003.2; BMS= 3780.1±1081.8 vs. C=1027.9 ± 268.1 ) pg/ml ( p < 0.01). Conclusions: These preliminary results indicate that the pro-inflammatory cytokine, IL-8 may be detected at increased levels in whole saliva in various oral diseases which may have diagnostic and/or prognostic significance as well as utility for monitoring inflammatory progression or amelioration.