title: Gingival Crevicular Fluid Levels of Sclerostin, Osteoprotegerin, and Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-κB Ligand in Periodontitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To investigate changes in the levels and relative ratios of sclerostin, osteoprotegerin (OPG), and receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) in the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of patients with periodontitis after non-surgical periodontal treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-four individuals (27 healthy controls and 27 patients with chronic periodontitis [CP]) were enrolled in the study. Periodontitis patients received non-surgical periodontal therapy. GCF sampling and clinical periodontal parameters were assessed before and 6 weeks after therapy. Sclerostin, OPG, and RANKL levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and their relative ratios were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total amounts and concentrations of sclerostin were significantly higher in patients with CP than in healthy individuals (P <0.025) and decreased after treatment (P <0.05). The RANKL/OPG ratio was significantly lower in healthy individuals than in patients with periodontitis before and after treatment (P <0.025), but no significant difference was observed in patients with periodontitis after treatment (P >0.05). The sclerostin/OPG and sclerostin/RANKL ratios were significantly lower in healthy individuals than in patients with periodontitis before and after treatment (P <0.025) and decreased in patients with periodontitis after treatment (P <0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The GCF sclerostin level may be more reliable than the RANKL/OPG ratio as a diagnostic and prognostic marker of periodontal disease and treatment outcome. Regulation of sclerostin levels may aid the development of new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of periodontal disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, Bulent Ecevit University, Zonguldak, Turkey.
authors.forename: Umut
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Balli
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, Biruni University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aydogdu
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, Bulent Ecevit University, Zonguldak, Turkey.
authors.forename: Figen Ongoz
authors.initials: FO
authors.lastname: Dede
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, Bulent Ecevit University, Zonguldak, Turkey.
authors.forename: Cigdem Coskun
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Turer
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Bulent Ecevit University.
authors.forename: Berrak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Guven
mesh_terms: D005883:Gingival Crevicular Fluid; D006801:Humans; D053244:Osteoprotegerin; D010518:Periodontitis; D053245:RANK Ligand
chemical_list: D053244:Osteoprotegerin; D053245:RANK Ligand
keywords: Gingival crevicular fluid; RANK ligand; osteoprotegerin; periodontal diseases