title: Influence of periodontal status and periodontopathogens on levels of oral human β-defensin-2 in saliva.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Expression patterns of human β-defensin-2 (HBD-2) mRNA or HBD-2 protein concentration and periodontal diseases have been a focus of scientific research. This study compares the salivary levels of HBD-2 protein concentration of healthy patients and patients with gingivitis and chronic periodontitis (CP) and correlates these levels with the presence of periodontopathogens.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 89 patients were enrolled in this study: 31 periodontally healthy, 27 with gingivitis, and 31 with CP. Plaque and gingival indices, probing depth, and clinical attachment level were measured. The presence of Campylobacter rectus, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, Treponema denticola, and Prevotella intermedia was evaluated qualitatively by conventional polymerase chain reaction. HBD-2 quantification in saliva was performed using an immune enzymatic assay. Frequency of periodontopathogens and HBD-2 protein concentration was assessed. Association between HBD-2 protein concentration (≥100 pg/mL) and the simultaneous presence of one to two, three to four, or five to six periodontopathogens was tested.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although periodontally healthy individuals and patients with gingivitis showed similar HBD-2 levels, the CP group displayed an increased level of HBD-2. P. gingivalis, P. intermedia, T. forsythia, and T. denticola were more prevalent in CP; however, their mere presence was not related to the increased levels of HBD-2 (Pearson correlation and multinomial logistic regression model).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Salivary HBD-2 protein concentration was higher in patients with CP compared with healthy individuals or patients with gingivitis. These different protein concentrations were not related to the frequency of periodontopathogens. Clinical inflammatory profile had a higher impact on salivary HBD-2 levels than bacteria.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, University of Taubaté, Taubaté, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alexandre L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Gilson C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Franco
authors.forename: Sheila C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Cortelli
authors.forename: Davi R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Aquino
authors.forename: Fernando O
authors.initials: FO
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Suzane A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Raslan
authors.forename: José R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Cortelli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016976:Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans / Q000302:isolation & purification; D058491:Bacterial Load; D001439:Bacteroides / Q000302:isolation & purification; D044883:Campylobacter rectus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D055113:Chronic Periodontitis / Q000382:microbiology*; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D005260:Female; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000382:microbiology*; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017622:Periodontal Attachment Loss / Q000145:classification / Q000382:microbiology; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000145:classification / Q000382:microbiology; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018713:Prevotella intermedia / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides / Q000032:analysis*; D048373:Treponema denticola / Q000302:isolation & purification; D023083:beta-Defensins / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: C106641:DEFB4A protein, human; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides; D023083:beta-Defensins