INTERLEUKIN-8 AND BETA-GLUCURONIDASE IN GINGIVAL CREVICULAR FLUID

Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) play a critical role in the host's response to the subgingival microflora. Interleukin-8 (IL-8) is a pote nt chemotactic and activating factor for PMN. In this study the presen ce of IL-8 in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) was examined in relation to the PMN indicator beta-glucuronidase (beta G), as well as clinical parameters of chronic inflammatory periodontal disease. Data was obta ined from 30 patients with periodontitis and 14 healthy controls. For the control group, GCF and clinical data were obtained only once. For the periodontitis patients, clinical data and GCF samples were collect ed prior to treatment, and GCF samples were again collected 2 weeks af ter scaling and root planing. Comparing control and periodontitis pati ents prior to treatment, IL-8 concentration was lower in the patients with periodontitis. Scaling and root planing resulted in either an inc rease or a decrease in total IL-8 and IL-8 concentration GCF. A reduct ion in total IL-8 or IL-8 concentration was accompanied by a correspon ding reduction in beta G activity. An increase ill total IL-8 or IL-8 concentration after scaling and root planing was associated with an in crease in beta G activity in some patients and a reduction in beta G a ctivity in other patients, The periodontitis patients who did not demo nstrate a linkage between IL-8 and beta G activity in GCF were those i ndividuals with the highest beta G activity prior to treatment. As ele vated beta G activity in GCF has been associated with an increased ris k for probing attachment loss, the absence of a direct relationship be tween IL-8 in GCF and PMN recruitment into the gingival crevice may ch aracterize individuals at risk for progression of periodontitis.