The effects of smoking on the expression of gelatinases in chronic periodontitis: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Smokers have a risk of developing periodontal disease. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) play a significant role in periodontal tissue destruction. In this study possible relationship between smoking and gingival tissue expression of gelatinases in chronic periodontitis patients relative to periodontally healthy subjects was investigated. Forty chronic periodontitis patients (20 smokers and 20 non-smokers) and forty periodontally healthy subjects (20 smokers and 20 non-smokers) were enrolled. The clinical periodontal measurements recorded, and gingival tissues harvested after that. After histologic evaluation, matrix metalloproteinases -2 and -9 expressions were analyzed immunohistochemically. In nonsmokers, higher expression of metalloproteinases -2 and -9 detected in chronic periodontitis group compared to the periodontally healthy group. In the smoker chronic periodontitis group, the expression of metalloproteinases-2 was lower than nonsmoker chronic periodontitis group. Statistically significant differences detected between smoker and nonsmoker periodontally healthy groups in metalloproteinases-2 expression. For metalloproteinases-9 expression, smoker chronic periodontitis group has lower values than nonsmoker chronic periodontitis group. In periodontally healthy group smokers showed higher metalloproteinases -9 expressions than non- smokers. Present findings support the role of gelatinases in chronic periodontitis pathogenesis. Based on the current results we conclude that smoking alters the expression of gelatinases in gingival tissues.

Alkaline phosphatase as a periodontal disease marker.

Background: The potential of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) as an important diagnostic marker of gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) has been the subject to investigation since 1970. ALP is stored in specific granules and secretory vesicles of the neutrophils and is mainly released during their migration to the site of infection. It is also present in bacteria within dental plaque, osteoblasts and fibroblasts. It has, thus, become important to elucidate whether GCF levels of ALP are potential measures of the inflammatory activity occurring in the adjacent periodontal tissues. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the total activity of ALP in the GCF collected from healthy sites, sites with gingivitis and with chronic adult periodontitis. An attempt was also made to establish the correlation of ALP activity with plaque index, gingival index, bleeding index and probing depth. Materials and Methods: A total of 18 patients were divided into three groups: viz., healthy sites, Group I; gingivitis, Group II; chronic periodontitis, Group III. Clinical parameters like plaque index, bleeding index, gingival index and probing depth were recorded. The ALP level in GCF of all three groups was determined by spectrophotometric analysis. Results: Total enzyme activity of ALP was significantly higher in periodontitis as compared with that in healthy and gingivitis sites, and was significantly and positively correlated with probing depth. Conclusion: ALP can be considered as a periodontal disease marker as it can distinguish between healthy and inflamed sites. However, to better define its capacity for periodontal diagnosis, additional longitudinal studies are required.

Determinación de la actividad de la enzima láctica deshidrogenasa en el fluido gingival / Determination of the lactate-dehydrogenase enzyme activity on gingival crevicular fluid

El propósito de la presente investigación fue hacer un estudio bioquímico de la actividad de la enzima láctica deshidrogenasa en el fluido gingival en pacientes sanos y enfermos, con el objetivo de comprobar si la actividad enzimática puede ser un indicador confiable de las alteraciones que están sucediendo en el surco gingival. La recolección del fluido se realizó en sitios pareados de filtro de 1 mm de espesor y de 5 x 10 mm de diámetro durante 30 segundos en la cara mesial del diente, y se halló la media de la enzima en UI/30 segundos. Se pudo comprobar la presencia de la enzima tanto en sitios sanos como enfermos. estos últimos presentaron una mediasuperior a la de los sitios sanos; en ambos, la distribución de la media fue similar. Las distribuciones de frecuencias observadas fueron completamente diferentes, estando los valores extremos en el sano de 0,002 y 0,0012 y en el enfermo 0,020 y 0,087

Enzymatic changes in the gingival tissues after radiotherapy

Twelve subjects with radiosensitive malignancies in the head and neck and 12 control normal patients with healthy gingival tissues are included in this study. A single specimen was taken from the gingiva of control patients, while 3 specimens where taken from the radiotherapy patients [before, after, and 6 months later radiotherapy]. Lypholisation of the tissues was done and Apizym kit was used. The results showed significant biochemical changes in the enzymatic activities of the gingival tissues after radiotherapy. A difference is quite apparent between control and radiotherapy group, for all enzymes except for estraselipase and B-galactosidase. These changes are expected to participate significantly in the histopathochemical and clinical changes in the role tissue after radiotherapy