Crevicular fluid levels of TGFbeta1 in drug-induced gingival overgrowth.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if local, gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) levels of TGFbeta1 were altered in drug-induced gingival overgrowth.


METHODS
GCF samples were collected on Periopaper strips from 45 renal transplant recipients who had been medicated with cyclosporin or cyclosporin in combination with other putative overgrowth-inducing drugs for a minimum of 6 months. Twenty-two subjects had gingival overgrowth while the other 23 patients showed no signs of gingival changes and constituted the medicated control group. Non-medicated controls consisted 20 periodontally healthy individuals who had never taken overgrowth-inducing drugs. GCF levels of TGFbeta1 and alkaline phosphatase, a marker of inflammation, were determined by enhanced chemiluminescence ELISA and enzyme activity assays, respectively.


RESULTS
TGFbeta1 levels in GCF from overgrowth and non-overgrowth sites in overgrowth sufferers did not differ. However, there were significant differences in median concentration (P = 0.001) and GCF levels of TGFbeta1 per sample (P = 0.05) between study groups with overgrowth patients having higher amounts per sample and lower concentrations than medicated and healthy controls. Median levels of alkaline phosphatase per GCF sample differed between site (P = 0.01) with higher levels present at overgrowth sites. Despite this, the concentration of enzyme in GCF did not differ between site or patient group.


CONCLUSIONS
GCF TGFbeta1 detected in overgrowth patients could reflect a higher level of gingival inflammation because of difficulties in plaque control consequent on the development of overgrowth. However, the higher local levels of total TGFbeta1 in overgrowth patients could indicate that it is a risk factor for developing gingival overgrowth.
Wright
Helen J
HJ
Periodontal Research Group, Unit of Oral Biology & Pathology, School of Dentistry, University of Birmingham, St. Chad's Queensway, Birmingham B4 6NN, UK.
Chapple
Iain L C
IL
Blair
Fiona
F
Matthews
John B
JB
D000328:Adult; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000032:analysis; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005883:Gingival Crevicular Fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D019214:Gingival Overgrowth / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000032:analysis*; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; C508960:TGFB1 protein, human; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D016572:Cyclosporine; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase