LEVELS OF INTERLEUKIN-1-BETA AND INTERLEUKIN-8 IN GINGIVAL CREVICULARFLUIDS IN ADULT PERIODONTITIS

RECENT IN VITRO FINDINGS INDICATE that cytokines represent an importan t pathway of connective tissue destruction in human periodontitis. The biological effects of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) and interleukin- 8 (IL-8) are relevant in this regard, and the objective of this study was to compare the levels of these molecules in gingival crevicular fl uids (GCF) from patients with adult periodontitis (experimental group) and from individuals with clinically healthy gingiva (control group). GCF was collected for 30 seconds using a periopaper strip and the vol ume of the sample determined. Following elution of the fluid, assays f or IL-1 beta and IL-8 were carried out by ELISA. The concentrations (n g/ml) of cytokines were calculated in the original volume of GCF on ea ch strip. The total amounts (pg/site) of cytokines were expressed as t he concentrations multiplied by volumes of GCF. The total amounts of I L-1 beta and IL-8 of the experimental group were significantly higher than the control group. The total amounts of both cytokines were marke dly reduced following phase 1 periodontal treatment. The clinical para meters were positively related to the total amounts of IL-1 beta and I L-8. IL-1 beta concentrations and total amounts were also positively r elated to IL-8 suggesting that the GCF IL-8 levels are influenced by l ocal IL-1 beta activities. These data indicate that the total amounts of IL-1 beta and IL-8 exhibited dynamic changes upon severity of perio dontal disease. The levels of IL-1 beta and IL-8 in GCF are valuable i n detecting the inflammation of periodontal tissue.