Salivary biomarkers of existing periodontal disease: a cross-sectional study.
BACKGROUND
The authors conducted a study to determine if salivary biomarkers specific for three aspects of periodontitis--inflammation, collagen degradation and bone turnover--correlate with clinica features of periodontal disease.


METHODS
The relationship between periodontal disease and the levels of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1beta), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-8, and osteoprotegerin (OPG) in whole saliva of 57 adults (28 "case" subjects with moderate-to-severe periodontal disease and 29 healthy control subjects) was examined in a case-control trial.


RESULTS
Mean levels of IL-1beta and MMP-8 in saliva were significantly higher in case subjects than in controls. Both analytes correlated with periodontal indexes, whereas, after adjustment for confounders, OPG did not. Elevated salivary levels of MMP-8 or IL-1beta (more than two standard deviations above the mean of the controls) significantly increased the risk of periodontal disease (odds ratios in the 11.3-15.4 range). Combined elevated salivary levels of MMP-8 and IL-1beta increased the risk of experiencing periodontal disease 45-fold, and elevations in all three biomarkers correlated with individual clinical parameters indicative of periodontal disease.


CONCLUSIONS
Salivary levels of MMP-8 and IL-1beta appear to serve as biomarkers of periodontitis.


CONCLUSIONS
Qualitative changes in the composition of salivary biomarkers could have significance in the diagnosis and treatment of periodontal disease.
Oral Medicine Section, Department of Oral Health Practice, College of Dentistry, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, MN 324, 800 Rose Street, Lexington, Ky 40536-0297, USA. cmiller@uky.edu
Craig S
CS
Miller
Charles P
CP
King
M Chris
MC
Langub
Richard J
RJ
Kryscio
Mark V
MV
Thomas
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D005883:Gingival Crevicular Fluid / Q000737:chemistry; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D020784:Matrix Metalloproteinase 8 / Q000032:analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D053244:Osteoprotegerin; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000032:analysis; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000032:analysis; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000201:enzymology
D015415:Biomarkers; D006023:Glycoproteins; D007375:Interleukin-1; D053244:Osteoprotegerin; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; C506030:TNFRSF11B protein, human; D020784:Matrix Metalloproteinase 8