Cytokines, matrix metalloproteinases and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases‐1 in gingival crevicular fluid from patients with Papillon‐Lefèvre syndrome

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to compare concentrations of cytokines, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and a metalloproteinase inhibitor (TIMP‐1) in gingival crevicular fluids (GCF) from sites with gingival inflammation in 28 young patients with Papillon‐Lefèvre syndrome (PLS), and in age‐ and gender‐matched controls. Each group consisted of 17 females and 11 males with a mean age of 11.0 years (range 4–22 years). In both groups, anterior upper sites with a clinical diagnosis of gingival inflammation and with pockets ≤3 mm were selected for sampling of GCF, which was carried out with filter disks inserted into the gingival crevice until saturated. The concentrations of cytokines (IL‐1α, IL‐1β, TNF‐α, and IL‐8), matrix metalloproteinases (MMP‐1, MMP‐3, MMP‐8, and MMP‐9), and their tissue inhibitor (TIMP‐1) were analysed using commercial ELISA kits. Significantly higher levels of IL‐1β (P < 0.001) and MMP‐8 (P < 0.05) were disclosed among the PLS patients compared with their controls, while the opposite was found for IL‐8 (P < 0.05) and MMP‐1 (P < 0.001). The individual variations were considerable in both groups. When comparing the expression of cytokines, MMPs, and TIMP‐1 in PLS patients with clinically active and non‐active periodontitis, the non‐active PLS patients showed significantly higher values of IL‐1β than the patients with active periodontal disease (ANOVA, P < 0.01). In conclusion, this study was unable to demonstrate a clear‐cut pathognomonic expression of cytokines or MMPs in patients with PLS, but further studies on cytokine and MMP output are warranted.