Elastase release from gingival crevicular and peripheral neutrophils in periodontitis and health.

The activity of elastase increases significantly in the gingival sulcus during inflammation. The release of this enzyme from crevicular and peripheral polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNs) was studied in seven patients with gingivitis, six with adult periodontitis, seven with rapidly progressive periodontitis and in nine healthy subjects. Peripheral PMNs were isolated from blood and crevicular PMNs from gingival washings.

The recovery efficiency of various materials for sampling enzymes and polymorphonuclear leukocytes from gingival crevices.

The present investigation was designed to assess the effects of strips made of different materials on the recovery of enzymes in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) (Experiment 1), and to examine a possible relationship between lysosomal enzyme activities and number of crevicular polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) (Experiment 2). In Experiment 1, GCF was collected with capillaries from 14 patients with periodontal disease, and applied on various test strips in microcentrifuged tubes or directly into tubes (controls). Strips were then shaken and centrifuged to elute GCF enzymes.

Neutrophil elastase and its inhibitors in human gingival crevicular fluid during experimental gingivitis.

The relative concentrations and absolute amounts of neutrophil elastase and its two inhibitors, alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2-M) and alpha 1-antitrypsin (alpha 1-AT), were determined in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) collected from six dental students who refrained from brushing the upper left or right quadrant during three weeks. Plaque and gingival indices and flow of GCF were measured before, during, and after the three weeks of no brushing. Functional elastase, representing the enzyme complexed with alpha 2-M, was measured by use of a low-molecular-weight fluorogenic substrate.