title: Macrophage activating factor: A potential biomarker of periodontal health status.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In periodontitis, activated macrophages not only initiate immune responses to periodontal-pathogen infections, but also damage the periodontal tissues by releasing a series of inflammatory cytokines. Macrophage-activating factor (MAF) and macrophage-chemotactic factor (MCF) are two important mediators involved in macrophage accumulation, activation and function. This study analyzed the levels of salivary MAF and MCF in healthy individuals and those with different periodontal diseases, and assessed the usefulness of salivary MAF and MCF as diagnostic biomarkers in periodontal tissue health status.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-five saliva specimens were collected from healthy individuals (n=19), and patients with gingivitis (n=19), mild periodontitis (n=17), moderate periodontitis (n=20), and severe periodontitis (n=20). Pocket probing depth (PPD) and alveolar bone loss (ABL) were recorded via periodontal probing and dental radiography, respectively. Salivary MAF and MCF concentrations were assayed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MAF level tended to increase in saliva as periodontal diseases progressed (healthy periodontium<gingivitis<mild periodontitis<moderate periodontitis<severe periodontitis). The concentration of salivary MAF in periodontitis correlated positively with ABL (r=0.758) and PPD (r=0.779). In contrast, salivary MCF levels increased significantly only in periodontitis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Salivary MAF levels correlate positively with tissue destruction in periodontal diseases. It is a potential valuable biomarker that could be used to assess periodontal health status.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China. Electronic address: pingzhang68@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China. Electronic address: 1115925203@qq.com.
authors.forename: Yaping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China. Electronic address: 996462491@qq.com.
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China. Electronic address: 66056913@qq.com.
authors.forename: Jiao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China. Electronic address: 836912722@qq.com.
authors.forename: Wenjie
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China. Electronic address: 371641564@qq.com.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China. Electronic address: 114611175@qq.com.
authors.forename: Jiehua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China. Electronic address: 836024621@qq.com.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Su
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China. Electronic address: 12148659@qq.com.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China. Electronic address: zhouxd@scu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Xuedong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China. Electronic address: 953463551@qq.com.
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Feng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016215:Macrophage-Activating Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009909:Oral Health; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D016215:Macrophage-Activating Factors
keywords: Macrophage-activating factor; Oral health status; Periodontal disease; Saliva