GINGIVAL FLUID IL-1-BETA AND IL-6 LEVELS IN MENOPAUSE

Menopause and oophorectomy without estrogen therapy (ED) have been ass ociated with increased production of bone-active cytokines by peripher al blood mononuclear cells. The current study extended evaluation to g ingival crevicular fluid (GCF) levels of interleukin (IL)-1beta and IL -6 in such subjects compared to premenopausal and postmenopausal estro gen-treated females (ES). 13 ED and 13 ES Caucasians with a history of moderate-severe adult periodontitis provided GCF from 1-3 clinically identical sites each (5-6 mm probing depth, 5-7 mm clinical attachment loss, bleeding on probing). 30 s GCF samples were obtained and evalua ted for IL-1beta and IL-6 levels using two-site enzyme-linked immunoso rbent assays (ELISAs). The frequency of GCF IL-1beta-positive subjects was elevated in ED versus ES (92% versus 23%; p < 0.0004, chi2 analys is). IL-6 was detected more frequently in ED subjects (23% versus 8%; not significant); however, the frequency of IL-6 detection was low in both groups due to short sampling times. These data support the concep t that clinical conditions causing low estrogen environments allow inc reased local production of the bone-active cytokine IL-1beta, and perh aps IL-6.