title: Lysozyme and microbiota in relation to gingivitis and periodontitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to investigate associations between the immune component of the oral cavity, lysozyme, in gingival crevicular fluid and unstimulated saliva, and colonization dynamics of periodontopathogenic bacteria from supra- and subgingival plaque samples in patients with gingivitis or periodontitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Lysozyme in crevicular fluid and unstimulated saliva, and bacteria in supra- and subgingival plaque samples were assessed in 84 samples from 28 patients with gingivitis, 96 samples from 32 patients with periodontitis, and 72 samples from 24 donors with intact periodontium and free of internal disease. Lysozyme activity was determined spectrophotometrically. The micro-IDent plus assay was used to detect 6 periodontopathogenic bacteria plaque samples.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Lysozyme activity in crevicular fluid in the gingivitis and periodontitis groups was significantly greater than that in the donor group, but lysozyme activity in unstimulated saliva was less than that in the donor group. Peptostreptococcus micros, Fusobacterium periodontium and Campylobacter rectus were predominant in subgingival plaque samples in the periodontitis group compared to the donor group (P<0.001), and Eubacterium nodatum and Eikenella corrodens were predominant in the gingivitis group compared to the donor group (P<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lysozyme activity in crevicular fluid and in unstimulated saliva correlated with periodontal pocket depth in donors and in patients with gingivitis or periodontitis (specificity and sensitivity were both 100%). These findings indicate that infection with P. micros, F. periodontium, E. nodatum, E. corrodens, and C. rectus may be an important indicator of inflammatory periodontal disease development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental and Maxillofacial Orthopedics, Kaunas University of Medicine, Lithuania. surna@dent.kmu.lt
authors.forename: Algimantas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Surna
authors.forename: Ricardas
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kubilius
authors.forename: Jurgina
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sakalauskiene
authors.forename: Astra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vitkauskiene
authors.forename: Juozas
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jonaitis
authors.forename: Viktoras
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Saferis
authors.forename: Alvydas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gleiznys
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009113:Muramidase / Q000378:metabolism*; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D011379:Prognosis; D012044:Regression Analysis
chemical_list: D009113:Muramidase