Content of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and its inhibitor PAI-1 in oral mucosa and inflamed periodontal tissue.
OBJECTIVE
Recent literature has demonstrated that local proteolytic enzymes participate in periodontitis and peri-implantitis. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether the serine proteases urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and its plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1) show elevated amounts in inflamed periodontal tissues as compared to healthy oral mucosa to determine if these proteins are involved in the process of periodontal breakdown.


METHODS
Fifty-eight patients with severe periodontitis were included in this study. Periodontal therapy was performed by means of modified Widman flaps. During surgery, samples of healthy oral mucosa and inflamed tissues were taken. Highly sensitive ELISAs allowed for determination of uPA and PAI-1 content in inflamed periodontal tissues and healthy oral mucosa.


RESULTS
The amount of uPA and PAI-1 in diseased periodontal tissue was significantly higher than in the clinically healthy oral mucosa (P=or<.002). However, no statistically significant correlation with the sex or age of the patients or attachment loss of the teeth was seen.


CONCLUSIONS
Serine proteases uPA and its inhibitor PAI-1 participate in periodontitis.
Deppe
Herbert
H
Department of Oral and Craniomaxillofacial Surgery, Technische Universität München, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Munich, Germany.
Hohlweg-Majert
Bettina
B
Hölzle
Frank
F
Kesting
Marco R
MR
Wagenpfeil
Stefan
S
Wolff
Klaus-Dietrich
KD
Schmitt
Manfred
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D055113:Chronic Periodontitis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000601:surgery; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000201:enzymology*; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator