Crevicular fluid levels of interleukin-1alpha and interleukin-1beta during experimental gingivitis in young and old adults.

The purpose of the present investigation was to study the effect of age on interleukin-1alpha (Il-1alpha) and interleukin-1beta (Il-1beta) production during experimental gingivitis. One group of five young subjects (20-22 years old) and another group of five older subjects aged 61-65 years were involved in the study. A professional plaque control programme was undertaken to establish healthy gingival conditions at baseline. The examination included the mesiobuccal sites of the Ramfjord teeth (16, 21, 24, 36, 41, 44). Clinical measurements and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) samples were obtained at baseline, at 21 days of no oral hygiene and one week later after professional cleaning and re-establishment of oral hygiene procedures. Results showed significant differences between the two groups with regard to the amount of plaque accumulation clinical signs of gingival inflammation and GCF volume all of which proved to be more pronounced in the older group. The laboratory data presented a remarkable increase of Il-1alpha levels at day 21 for both groups which were significantly reduced at day 28. For the older adults group the Il-1beta values increased significantly at day 21 and recovered at day 28. For the young adults group these values, despite a small statistically insignificant progressive increase at day 21, remained at low levels during the experimental process. This was the only difference in the cytokines values between older and young adults. It was concluded that low Il-1beta levels observed in the young adults group might explain the less pronounced clinical signs observed during the development of gingivitis in the younger subjects.