COLLAGENASE, GELATINASE AND ELASTASE ACTIVITIES IN SULCULAR FLUID OF OSSEOINTEGRATED IMPLANTS AND NATURAL TEETH

Proteinases play a key role in the physiological degradation and remod elling of the periodontal tissues. The role of these enzymes in tissue remodelling in connection with the insertion of dental endosseous imp lants has not been elucidated. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to identify the eventual presence of collagenase, gelatinase and elastase activities in periimplant sulcus fluid (PISF) of osseointegra ted implants. Gelatinolytic activity in the samples was studied with g elatin-zymograms. Collagenase activity and its susceptibility to tetra cycline-inhibition were monitored with SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrop horesis and laser densitometry, and elastase activity with synthetic s ubstrate. Low activities of elastase and collagenase were detected in both PISF of osseointegrated implant patients and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of the control patients whereas significantly higher activ ities were detected in GCF of adult periodontitis patients. Also the p rofiles of gelatinases were similar in PISF of osseointegrated implant patients and GCF of the controls, but differed from the profile of ac tive gelatinases present in GCF of adult periodontitis patients. The s imilar activities/characteristics of these proteinases in both periimp lant sulcus fluid of healthy dental implants and GCF of healthy natura l teeth suggest that they comprise the major proteinases for both peri odontal and periimplant tissue remodelling or destruction.