Salivary and serum nitric oxide synthase, macrophage inflammatory protein 1 alpha and macrophage migration inhibitory factor levels in periodontal disease.

Objective: Periodontal disease is multifactorial inflammatory disease involving both gingivitis and periodontitis. Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), macrophage inflammatory protein 1 alpha (MIP-1α) and macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) are mediators contributing to the progression of periodontal diseases with distinct functions. The aim of this study is to evaluate the local and systemic iNOS, MIP-1α and MIF concentrations in patients having periodontal disease with different severities.

Design: The study was conducted on 88 individuals equally divided into four groups; 1) Periodontally Healthy 2) Gingivitis 3) Stage I-II Periodontitis 4) Stage III-IV Periodontitis. Saliva and serum samples were obtained from each individual and then periodontal examinations were performed. Plaque and bleeding on probing indexes, probing depths and clinical attachment levels were measured on each tooth to determine the periodontal status. Concentrations of iNOS, MIP-1α and MIF were measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results: Patients with stage I-II and stage III-IV periodontitis had more iNOS levels than periodontally healthy people in serum and saliva (p ≤ 0,001 for serum; p < 0,05 for saliva). Stage III-IV periodontitis group had significantly more serum-iNOS levels than that in gingivitis group (p = 0,005). When compared with periodontally healthy individuals, MIP-1α levels in stage III-IV periodontitis patients were measured significantly more in saliva; (p = 0,016) but less in serum (p = 0,006) samples. More serum-MIF concentrations were observed in stage I-II periodontitis groups than that in periodontally healthy individuals (p < 0,05).

Conclusion: Increased salivary and serum iNOS and serum-MIF levels in different stages of periodontitis suggest that these molecules might be involved in periodontal disease pathogenesis. Also, oral microenvironment may stimulate the enhanced MIP-1α concentration in advanced periodontitis cases.