Human β-defensin 2 and protease activated receptor-2 expression in patients with chronic periodontitis.
OBJECTIVE
Some previous studies have shown that gingipains, trypsin-like proteases produced by Porphyromonas gingivalis, up-regulate human β defensin-2 (HBD-2) mRNA expression through protease-activated receptor-2 (PAR(2)) in gingival epithelial cells. This study aimed at investigating salivary HBD-2 levels and crevicular PAR(2) mRNA expression in human chronic periodontitis and evaluating whether periodontal treatment affected this process.


METHODS
Salivary and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) samples were collected from periodontally healthy (control) and chronic periodontitis patients at baseline and 50 days after non-surgical periodontal treatment. Salivary HBD-2, and GCF TNF-α levels were analysed by ELISA, and PAR(2) mRNA at the GCF was evaluated by RT-PCR.


RESULTS
P. gingivalis was significantly (p<0.05) more prevalent in patients with chronic periodontitis when compared to controls. This prevalence decreased after periodontal therapy (p<0.0001). The control group showed statistically significant lower levels of HBD-2, TNF-α, and PAR(2) expression when compared to the chronic periodontitis group. In addition, periodontal treatment significantly reduced PAR(2) expression and HBD-2 levels in chronic periodontitis patients (p<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that salivary HBD-2 levels and PAR(2) mRNA expression from GCF are higher in subjects with chronic periodontitis than in healthy subjects, and that periodontal treatment decreases both HBD-2 levels and PAR(2) expression.
Department of Periodontology, University of Taubaté, SP, Brazil. alupe@terra.com.br
Alexandre Lustosa
AL
Pereira
Marinella
M
Holzhausen
Gilson César Nobre
GC
Franco
Sheila Cavalca
SC
Cortelli
José Roberto
JR
Cortelli
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D055113:Chronic Periodontitis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005883:Gingival Crevicular Fluid / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D044464:Receptor, PAR-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry; D023083:beta-Defensins / Q000378:metabolism*
C106641:DEFB4A protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D044464:Receptor, PAR-2; D023083:beta-Defensins