title: Does smoking affect gingival crevicular fluid LL-37 levels following non-surgical periodontal treatment in chronic periodontitis?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  LL-37 contributes to maintaining the balance between health and disease. Smoking is a risk factor for periodontitis that impairs neutrophil functions. The aim of the present study was to comparatively evaluate gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) LL-37 levels in smoker and non-smoker chronic periodontitis (CP) patients and controls, as well as the effect of non-surgical periodontal treatment on GCF LL-37 levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-one CP patients (16 smokers, 15 non-smokers) and thirty-one controls (16 smokers, 15 non-smokers) were included in the study. CP patients received non-surgical treatment. GCF LL-37 levels and periodontal parameters were assessed at baseline, 1 and 3 months after completion of non-surgical periodontal treatment. GCF LL-37 levels were analyzed by ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant difference was observed in GCF LL-37 levels between smoker and non-smoker controls (p>0.05). Smoker CP group had significantly lower GCF LL-37 level than non-smoker CP group at baseline (p<0.05). GCF LL-37 levels significantly decreased in non-smoker CP group at first week, 1 and 3 months after completion of non-surgical periodontal treatment (p<0.05) although no significant decrease in GCF LL-37 levels was observed in smoker CP group (p>0.05). Periodontal parameters were correlated with GCF LL-37 levels in non-smoker CP group (p<0.05), but not in smoker CP group (p>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GCF LL-37 levels do not seem to be affected from smoking in periodontal health. However, smoking might have a suppressive effect on GCF LL-37 levels in CP. Non-surgical treatment is effective in decreasing GCF LL-37 levels in non-smoker CP patients but not in smokers with CP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, School of Dentistry, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey. Electronic address: oya_t@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Oya
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Türkoğlu
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, School of Dentistry, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey. Electronic address: gulnihal_karasu@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Gülnihal
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Eren
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, School of Dentistry, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey. Electronic address: gemingil@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Gülnur
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Emingil
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey. Electronic address: elif.azarsiz@ege.edu.tr.
authors.forename: Elif
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Azarsız
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey. Electronic address: necil.kutukculer@ege.edu.tr.
authors.forename: Necil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kutukculer
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, School of Dentistry, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey. Electronic address: gulatilla@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Gül
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Atilla
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D054804:Cathelicidins / Q000378:metabolism*; D055113:Chronic Periodontitis / Q000628:therapy*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005883:Gingival Crevicular Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000378:metabolism*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking
chemical_list: D054804:Cathelicidins; C585197:LL-37 peptide (17-32), human; D010446:Peptide Fragments
keywords: Antimicrobial peptide LL-37; Chronic periodontitis; Gingival crevicular fluid; Smoking