Estimation of the level of tumor necrosis factor- α in gingival crevicular fluid and serum in periodontal health & disease: A biochemical study.
Tumor Necrosis Factor-α(TNF-α), a "major inflammatory cytokine" not only plays an important role in periodontal destruction, but also is extremely toxic to the host. Till date, there are not many studies comparing the levels of TNF-α in GCF and serum and its relationship to periodontal disease. aim: Hence, an attempt is made to estimate the level of TNF-α in GCF and serum, its relationship to periodontal disease, and to explore the possibility of using the level of TNF-α in GCF as a biochemical "marker" of periodontal disease.


METHODS
60 subjects participated in the study and were grouped into control, gingivitis and periodonititis groups. The GCF and serum samples were assayed for TNF-α levels by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) method.


RESULTS
Showed elevated levels of TNF-α in group II and III subjects as compared to healthy controls in both GCF and serum, suggesting an association between periodontal disease and levels of TNF-α.


CONCLUSIONS
It remains a possibility that the absence or low levels of TNF-α in GCF might indicate a stable lesion and elevated levels might indicate an active site but only longitudinal studies taking into account, the disease "activity" and "inactivity" could suggest the possibility of using TNF-α in GCF as an "Indicator" of periodontal disease.
Department of Periodontics, Priyadarshini Dental College & Hospital, Chennai, India.
Kalpana
K
Gokul
Mohamed
M
Faizuddin
A R
AR
Pradeep
D000328:Adult; D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D055113:Chronic Periodontitis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D005883:Gingival Crevicular Fluid / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017622:Periodontal Attachment Loss / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D010519:Periodontium / Q000276:immunology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood
D015415:Biomarkers; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha