Objectives: Soluble types of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptors type 1 and 2 (sTNFR1 and R2) modulate the TNF-α-mediated inflammatory responses in chronic periodontitis (CP). Our study provided evidence that TNF-α, sTNFR1 and R2 in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) are significantly increased in CP and that the sTNFR2/R1 ratio decreases with the increased PPD values. In this study, we investigated the levels of TNF-α, sTNFR1 and R2 in GCF and serum of CP patients before and after periodontal treatment. Materials and Methods: Twenty two non-smokers with CP and 16 non-smoking, healthy controls were enrolled in this study. Before commencing with any treatment procedures, GCF was collected from PPD≤3mm of healthy controls and from PPD≤3mm, 4-6mm and ≥7mm sites of CP patients. Serum was drawn from all the subjects by venipucture in the cubital fossa. In total, 38 serum and 73 GCF samples were collected. After initial treatment, 15 serum and 32 GCF samples were collected from 15 CP patients. The levels of TNF-α, sTNFR1 and R2 were quantified by ELISA. Results: The total amounts of TNF-α, sTNFR1 and R2 in GCF significantly elevated with increasing PPD in CP patients (P<0.05). Compared to baseline, the levels of sTNFR1 and R2 in GCF decreased (sTNFR1; P=0.0006, sTNFR2; P=0.0033), while sTNFR2/R1 ratios in GCF increased (P=0.0003) with PPD reduction after treatment. In the serum, sTNFR2/R1 ratio was significantly higher after treatment than in baseline (P=0.01). Conclusion: These results suggest that the sTNFR2/R1 ratio in serum and GCF may act as new markers for periodontal disease activity.

Back to the Periodontal Research - Therapy Program
Back to the IADR General Session & Exhibition (June 28 – July 1, 2006)

Top Level Search