The relationship between elastase and lactoferrin in healthy, gingivitis and periodontitis sites.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the relative amounts of elastase (primary polymorphonuclear leucocyte granule constituent) and lactoferrin (secondary PMN granule constituent) in the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of healthy, gingivitis and periodontitis sites.


METHODS
This cross-sectional study looked at the two GCF constituents in three categories of disease status within the same subject.


METHODS
Patients with chronic adult periodontitis were screened and those exhibiting all three types of sites ie periodontally healthy, gingivitis and periodontitis sites were recruited (n=10) and had GCF collected from the three sites. Lactoferrin and elastase were measured in eluates of GCF by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.


RESULTS
The absolute amount of lactoferrin measured in ng per 30 s samples was significantly lower in healthy and gingivitis sites as compared to periodontitis sites; however this difference failed to reach significance when the concentration of lactoferrin in GCF was used as the analytical unit. No significant differences were found for elastase levels at any sites when expressed as either absolute amounts or concentrations. Secondary granule release, as evidenced by lactoferrin levels, occurs during cell migration and the process is independent of primary granule release, which is thought to correlate with PMN activation. The relationship between granule constituents in the samples showed significant differences, the highest lactoferrin/elastase ratio being at periodontitis sites (P<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
These findings imply a change in the relative amounts of elastase and lactoferrin released at different disease level sites, wth an almost 10-fold increase in the proportion of lactoferrin to elastase in periodontitis sites over healthy and gingivitis sites. This variation in the release by PMNs of primary and secondary granule constituents may indicate alterations in PMN function in different disease environments.
Murray
M C
MC
Periodontal Unit, Department of Adult Dental Care, Glasgow Dental Hospital and School, UK.
Mooney
J
J
Kinane
D F
DF
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015415:Biomarkers; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000378:metabolism; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005883:Gingival Crevicular Fluid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D019272:Leukocyte Elastase; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
D015415:Biomarkers; D007781:Lactoferrin; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase; D019272:Leukocyte Elastase