A matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor reduces bone-type collagen degradation fragments and specific collagenases in gingival crevicular fluid during adult periodontitis.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether an inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), administered to human subjects in a dental school research clinic, can reduce bone-type collagen degradation fragments in oral inflammatory exudates containing excessive levels of collagenase.


METHODS
Gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) was collected from 18 subjects with adult periodontitis whose clinical findings (gingival inflammation, pocket depth, and bone loss on radiographs) predicted excessive MMP activity in their periodontal pockets.


METHODS
One month before the baseline appointment, plaque and calculus were removed from the teeth by supra- and subgingival scaling. After collection of GCF from 8-12 pocket sites per subject and recording of clinical indices, 12 of the 18 subjects were treated with doxycycline at a low dosage (20 mg b.i.d.) known via an extensive literature to suppress mammalian MMP activity by a non-antimicrobial mechanism. The remaining 6 subjects were followed without drug treatment.


METHODS
At the baseline, 1 and 2-month appointments, GCF samples were analyzed for ICTP. (carboxyterminal peptide, a pyridinoline-containing fragment of Type I collagen) and osteocalcin by radioimmunoassay, as well as collagenolytic enzyme activity and MMP species (Western blot). Statistical analyses were determined by ANOVA.


RESULTS
GCF ICTP and functional collagenase activity (but not osteocalcin levels) were significantly reduced (p < 0.05) in the doxycycline-treated subjects at both 1 and 2 month evaluations: there was no such change in the non-treated subjects. Western blots revealed that neutrophil-type collagenase (MMP-8) was the predominant MMP; MMP-13, which has been associated with pathologic collagenolysis including bone resorption, was detected in human GCF for the first time and was more substantially reduced than MMP-8.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first demonstration in human subjects of the simultaneous reduction of excessive MMP activity with concomitant reduction in levels of collagen degradation fragments. The findings are potentially applicable to a wide variety of human diseases characterized by excessive collagenase activity.
Golub
L M
LM
Department of Oral Biology and Pathology, School of Dental Medicine, State University of New York, Stony Brook 11794, USA.
Lee
H M
HM
Greenwald
R A
RA
Ryan
M E
ME
Sorsa
T
T
Salo
T
T
Giannobile
W V
WV
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000378:metabolism; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism*; D024042:Collagen Type I; D017364:Collagenases / Q000378:metabolism; D004318:Doxycycline / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005883:Gingival Crevicular Fluid / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D020784:Matrix Metalloproteinase 8; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015675:Osteocalcin / Q000378:metabolism; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000378:metabolism; D010455:Peptides; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D024042:Collagen Type I; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D010455:Peptides; C052929:collagen type I trimeric cross-linked peptide; D015675:Osteocalcin; D003094:Collagen; D017364:Collagenases; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases; D020784:Matrix Metalloproteinase 8; D004318:Doxycycline