Background
This cross‐sectional study aims to investigate if a point‐of‐care (PoC) test of active matrix metalloproteinase‐8 (aMMP‐8) predicts levels of inflammation amplifier triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells‐1 (TREM‐1) and its putative ligand the neutrophil peptidoglycan recognition protein 1 (PGLYRP1) in saliva.
Methods
Forty‐seven adolescents, aged 15 to 17 years, were tested with aMMP‐8 PoC test, which was followed by a full‐mouth clinical examination of the assessment of periodontal, mucosal, and oral health. TREM‐1 and PGLYRP1 levels were analyzed by ELISA. The immunofluorometric assay (IFMA) specific for aMMP‐8 was used as the reference method.
Results
Fourteen saliva samples out of a total of 47 showed positivity for aMMP‐8 PoC test. Both the TREM‐1 and the aMMP‐8 (IFMA) levels were significantly elevated among the aMMP‐8 PoC test positives compared with the PoC test negatives (P < 0.05). Moreover, aMMP‐8 levels assessed by IFMA showed a strong positive correlation with TREM‐1 levels in saliva (r = 0.777, P < 0.001). The number of sites with a probing depth of ≥4 mm was significantly lower among the adolescents that had a negative aMMP‐8 PoC test result, and TREM‐1 levels < 75 pg/mL (P < 0.05). In contrast, adolescents with a positive aMMP‐8 PoC test result (i.e., elevated aMMP‐8 levels) together with elevated TREM‐1 levels had a significantly higher number of periodontal pockets with ≥4 mm (P < 0.001).
Conclusion
The present study validated usability of aMMP‐8 PoC test for predicting “proinflammatory” salivary profile and periodontal health status in adolescents.