Methods: Nine patients with PLS, and 20 healthy control (C) subjects were selected for the study. The gingival crevicular fluid was collected by using sterile filter papers. Assays for GCF IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6 were carried out by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. The groups compared with each other by utilizing Mann Whitney U-test.
Results: The GCF levels of IL-1β and IL-6 were lower in PLS group compared to those of the control group (p<0.05). TNF-α levels of PLS group did not differ from the controls.
Conclusions: These results suggest that the cytokine profiles of PLS differ from the controls. The lower expression of IL-1β and IL-6 might explain the deficiency in the immune response of PLS patients. The lack of a sufficient host response may be the cause of the tissue destruction.