Salivary secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor levels in patients with stage 3 grade C periodontitis: a comparative cross-sectional study

Abstract

Secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) is an anti-protease that protects mucosal tissue integrity owing to its anti-microbial and immunomodulatory properties. This study aimed to investigate SLPI levels in periodontal diseases, and analyze the potential correlation with clinical periodontal parameters. Whole saliva samples were obtained from healthy (n = 24), gingivitis (n = 24) and patients with stage 3 grade C periodontitis (n = 24). SLPI was measured by ELISA and normalized by total protein. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve was used for estimating the area under the curve (AUC). The normalized SLPI levels were significantly reduced in periodontitis compared with gingivitis (4.84-fold) or health (1.83-fold) and negatively correlated with periodontal parameters. The ROC curves showed a good predictor value of the SLPI for differentiation of periodontitis versus health or gingivitis (AUC ≥ 0.80). This study demonstrates that the levels of SLPI are high in periodontal health, further elevated in gingivitis, but eventually decreased in severe periodontitis beyond the former two states. This observation may have broader implications in the context of inflammatory diseases affecting the oral mucosa, as it shows that the bacterial burden is disturbing the homeostatic balances of anti-microbial and anti-protease factors in the oral cavity.

The Role of Sulfhydryl (Thiols) Groups in Oral and Periodontal Diseases

“…Salivary antioxidant levels (SOD, GPx, reduced GHS, ascorbic acid, alfa tocopherol, were observed to the lower in periodontal patients (Canacki) [146,[155][156][157]. In the present study, sulfhydryl (thiol), in gingival tissue, was observed in reduced quantities in the patients with gingivitis and periodontitis (groups B and C), compared with the people from healthy group (Group A) [158,159]. Testing the significance of differences in the concentration of sulfhydryl (thiol) group between the examined groups by post hoc test showed statistically significant differences in the values of this parameter among all groups of patients (F: 138.91; p < 0.001; p = 0.000) [160].…”

Molecularly imprinted nanogels as synthetic recognition materials for the ultrasensitive detection of periodontal disease biomarkers

“…Early-stage periodontal disease, gingivitis, is characterised by red and swollen gums. In some individuals, bacteria in the gingival biofilm secrete an excess of proteases that affect surrounding tissues [6]. An immune response is then likely to trigger the recruitment of inflammatory response units such as cytokines and matrix metalloproteases.…”