Salivary, blood and plasma nitrite concentrations in periodontal patients and healthy individuals before and after periodontal treatment.

BACKGROUND: To date, no study has employed ozone-based reductive chemiluminescence to compare nitrite concentration in the saliva of periodontal disease (PD) and healthy individuals or in the various blood compartments of the same individuals before and after periodontal treatment. We evaluated nitrite concentrations in whole, submandibular, and parotid saliva, as well as in whole blood, erythrocytes, and plasma of healthy volunteers and patients with chronic periodontitis. METHODS: Data obtained for the PD and control groups were compared before and 3 months after periodontal therapy. RESULTS: At baseline, stimulated whole saliva nitrite concentration was lower in PD patients (mean=57.3 ± 9.8 µmol/L) as compared with healthy individuals (92.5 ± 13.6 µmol/L, P<0.05). PD and periodontal treatment did not affect submandibular or parotid saliva nitrite concentrations. PD patients presented higher baseline whole blood nitrite concentration (238.4 ± 45.7 µmol/L) as compared with values recorded 3 months after therapy (141.3 ± 20.1 nmol/L, P<0.05). PD patients' erythrocytes exhibited higher baseline nitrite concentration (573.1 ± 97.8 nmol/L) as compared with three months after therapy (298.7 ± 52.1 nmol/L, P<0.05). Again, PD and PD treatment did not impact plasma nitrite concentration. CONCLUSIONS: PD patients had lower nitrite concentration in whole saliva, and this situation remained unchanged after periodontal treatment. Nevertheless, erythrocytes and whole blood nitrite levels diminished after periodontal treatment.

Salivary MMPs, TIMPs, and MPO levels in periodontal disease patients and controls.

BACKGROUND: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of zinc-dependent endopeptidases with an important role in physiological and pathological remodeling. Their activity is regulated by tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMPs). Excess MMPs and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity have been associated with loss of tooth supporting tissues in periodontal disease (PD). We investigate the changes in salivary MMP-8, MMP-9, TIMP-1, TIMP-2, and MPO concentrations during PD treatment and compare results with plasma levels. METHODS: MMP-8, MMP-9, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 were analyzed by ELISA. Gelatinolytic activity of MMP-9 forms was determined by zymography, and the MPO activity was determined by colorimetric assay. RESULTS: Subjects were divided into 2 groups: PD and control, which were further divided into 2 subgroups each, namely PD before (PB) and after 3 months (PA) of non-surgical periodontal therapy, and healthy volunteers at baseline (CB) and 3months after baseline (CA). Subgroup PA presented lower gelatinolytic activity and MMP-8 and TIMP-2 concentrations in the saliva compared with PB (p<0.05). The MPO activity was higher in PB compared with CB (p<0.05). There were significant correlations between the gelatinolytic activity of the saliva and MMP-8 and MMP-9 plasma levels. There was a significant correlation between plasma and saliva TIMP-2 levels. CONCLUSION: These results suggest attenuation of some inflammatory markers in the saliva and plasma after PD treatment. Moreover, correlations between salivary and plasma levels exist for some of these markers.

Gingival crevicular fluid levels of MMP-8, MMP-9, TIMP-2, and MPO decrease after periodontal therapy.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed at comparing the levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-8, tissue Inhibitor of MMPs (TIMP)-1 and TIMP-2, Myeloperoxidase (MPO), and MMP-9 in the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of chronic periodontitis (CP) patients and controls at baseline and 3 months after non-surgical therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: GCF was collected from one site of 15 control subjects and 27 CP patients. MMP-8, MMP-9, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2 were determined by Enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay; different forms of MMP-9, by gelatin zymography; and MPO, colorimetrically. RESULTS: At baseline, higher levels of MMP-8, TIMP-2, MPO, and the 87 kDa-MMP-9 were found in patients compared with controls (p<0.001), and these molecules decreased after therapy (p<0.03). There were no differences between the groups with respect to the higher molecular forms of MMP-9 (180, 130, 92 kDa) or total MMP-9 at baseline. No differences were observed in TIMP-1 levels. In controls, decreased levels of TIMP-2 and the higher molecular forms of MMP-9 (180, 130, 92 kDa) were found 3 months after therapy compared with baseline (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Higher levels of MMP-8, TIMP-2, MPO, and 87 kDa MMP-9 were found in the GCF of patients compared with controls, and these markers decreased 3 months after periodontal therapy.