title: Salivary matrix metalloproteinase-8 in patients with and without coronary heart disease may indicate an increased susceptibility to periodontal disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Tissue destruction caused by periodontitis may increase the number of cytokines implicated in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. We measured the concentration of the leukocyte-derived proteolytic enzyme, salivary neutrophil collagenase-2 [matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8)], as a marker of periodontal disease and assessed its relationship to coronary heart disease (CHD). Our aim was to study whether salivary MMP-8 levels were different among patients with and without CHD. The hypothesis was that patients with heart disease might present higher salivary MMP-8 levels than cardiologically healthy controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Saliva samples were taken from 256 patients with CHD and from 250 matched controls with known oral and general health status. The MMP-8 levels in saliva were analyzed by immunofluorometric assay, salivary albumin was assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and total protein was determined using the colorimetric method. We further investigated the molecular forms and isoform distribution of salivary MMP-8 by western immunoblotting. The MMP-8 results were adjusted for the number of teeth and salivary protein concentrations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The adjusted logarithmic MMP-8 values were 0.145 +/- 0.245 microg/l in patients with CHD and 0.088 +/- 0.115 microg/l in controls (p < 0.01). The respective MMP-8 : total protein and MMP-8 : albumin ratios were also significantly higher in CHD patients than in non-CHD subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elevated salivary MMP-8 levels seemed to associate with CHD, suggesting more tissue breakdown as a result of periodontitis among the patients with heart disease.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Dentistry, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. jussi.furuholm@helsinki.fi
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Furuholm
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sorsa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Qvarnström
authors.forename: S-J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Janket
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tervahartiala
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nuutinen
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Meurman
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015153:Blotting, Western; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000276:immunology; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020784:Matrix Metalloproteinase 8 / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000150:complications / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000276:immunology; D012463:Saliva / Q000201:enzymology*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D020784:Matrix Metalloproteinase 8