title: Elevated levels of salivary lactoferrin, a marker for chronic periodontitis?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Whole saliva is a complex mixture of fluids essential for the well-being of the oral hard and soft tissues. Saliva contains numerous antimicrobial proteins that help protect the oral ecosystem from infectious agents. Chronic periodontitis is an infectious chronic inflammatory condition that affects the tooth-supporting structures and leads to their destruction. The aim of the present study was to investigate differences in concentrations of salivary lactoferrin in subjects with and without periodontal disease and correlate these values with clinical variables associated with periodontal disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Stimulated whole saliva was collected from 17 subjects with chronic periodontitis and 17 periodontally healthy control subjects. Data relating to bleeding on probing, probing pocket depth and horizontal bone loss were registered. Concentrations of lactoferrin, lysozyme and IgA in stimulated whole saliva were quantified using ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Subjects with chronic periodontits showed higher concentrations of lactoferrin in stimulated whole saliva compared with periodontally healthy control subjects (p < 0.05). Salivary concentrations of lactoferrin were positively correlated with bleeding on probing (p < 0.001) and the number of sites with probing pocket depth ≥ 6 mm (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lactoferrin is raised in stimulated whole saliva in subjects with chronic periodontitis and is correlated with probing pocket depth ≥ 6 mm.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Periodontology and              Oral Biology, Centre for Oral Health Sciences, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Glimvall
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wickström
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jansson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D055113:Chronic Periodontitis / Q000378:metabolism*; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D005260:Female; D005884:Gingival Hemorrhage / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory / Q000032:analysis; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009113:Muramidase / Q000032:analysis; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism; D010519:Periodontium / Q000378:metabolism; D016300:Radiography, Bitewing; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry*; D012907:Smoking
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory; D009113:Muramidase; D007781:Lactoferrin