title: Effect of periodontal therapy on salivary interleukin-12 levels in chronic periodontitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Interleukin-12 (IL-12) is considered a central regulator of host resistance against a variety of pathogens. The influence of scaling and root planing was evaluated on amount of IL-12 in salivary fluid of patients with chronic generalized severe periodontitis, in relation to clinical parameters.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 50 subjects were enrolled, of which 25 had chronic generalized severe periodontitis, and 25 periodontally healthy as control. The clinical parameters included plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), pocket probing depth (PPD) bleeding on probing (BOP) and clinical attachment loss (CAL). The level of IL-12 in salivary fluid was measured by ELISA kit at baseline and at four week following scaling and root planing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean IL-12 levels in patients with periodontitis at baseline (9.79 ± 5.70 pg/ml) were higher than in controls (9.18±4.94 pg/ml; p=0.54.) Scaling and root planing resulted in significant increase in IL-12 levels (mean: 15.93±12.09 pg/ml; p =0.001) (control vs postoperative p <0.001). No significant correlations were found between IL-12 levels and any of the above clinical parameters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Short-term nonsurgical therapy resulted in a significant improvement in periodontal indices and a marked increase in IL-12 levels.
authors.affiliation: Professor and Head, Department of Periodontology, Subharti Dental College and Hospital , Delhi-Haridwar by Pass Road, Subharti Puram, Meerut, UP, India .
authors.forename: Anamika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Periodontology, Subharti Dental College and Hospital , Delhi-Haridwar by Pass Road, Subharti Puram, Meerut, UP, India .
authors.forename: B P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Khattak
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Subharti Medical College and Hospital , Delhi-Haridwar by Pass Road, Subharti Puram, Meerut, UP, India .
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Naagtilak
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, LLRM Medical College Meerut, UP, India .
authors.forename: Ganesh
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, LLRM Medical College Meerut, UP, India .
authors.forename: Tanveer
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bano
keywords: Biomarkers; Chronic perioodontitis; Cytokines; Interleukin-12; Saliva