Objective: We investigated in subjects with and without long-term periodontitis the levels of certain salivary proteins and matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8) in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF), in relation to the presence of specific periodontal pathogens. The hypothesis was that bacteria by triggering inflammatory reactions in gingival pockets cause disruption of epithelial integrity which reflects in saliva proteins. Methods: Clinical parameters were recorded at baseline in 1985, and in 2009, from 99 subjects; 55 with 44 without periodontitis (mean age 60.2 ± SD 2.9). Saliva samples collected in 2009 were analyzed for salivary albumin, total protein, and immunoglobulins A, G and M. GCF was collected for analysis of MMP-8 levels and for the PCR-analysis of the micro-organisms A. actinomycetemcomitans, P. gingivalis, P. intermedia, T. denticola and T. forsythia. Results: Periodontitis patients were more often than controls infected by P. gingivalis (p<0.01), P. intermedia and T. denticola (p=0.01). Salivary albumin and protein concentrations were significantly higher in subjects with T. denticola (p<0.05). MMP-8 levels were significantly higher in subjects with T. denticola (p<0.001) and T. forsythia (p<0.01). No corresponding results were found in salivary immunoglobulin concentrations. Conclusion: The presence of T. denticola seemed to increase salivary albumin and total protein concentrations, and GCF levels of MMP-8. Both T. denticola and T. forsythia seemed to induce a cascade of host response with increased MMP-8 in GCF. Hence our study hypothesis was partly confirmed.
Supported by Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, grants from TePe Oral Health Care, Sweden (MY, BS), The Academy of Finland (TS, TT), EVO-funding from the Helsinki University Central Hospital (JHM, TS), The Medical Society of Finland (MY, JHM, BS, P-ÖS). >