The correlation of gingival crevicular fluid interleukin-8 levels and periodontal status in localized juvenile periodontitis

LOCALIZED JUVENILE PERIODONTITIS (LJP) is an early-onset periodontal diseas e characterized by progressive bone loss involving the permanent first mola r and incisor teeth. Approximately 70% to 75% of LJP patients have impaired neutrophil chemotaxis towards a number of chemoattractants including N-for myl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine, complement fragment C5a, leukotriene B- 4, and interleukin 8 (IL-8). The aim of the present study was to observe th e role of IL-8 in the pathogenesis of LJP. Fourteen individuals who were sy stemically and periodontally healthy and 24 systemically healthy individual s diagnosed with LJP (based on the results of clinical periodontal assessme nts and radiographic examination) were recruited for this study. Gingival c revicular fluid (GCF) samples were obtained from anterior teeth in each sub ject before treatment. After evaluation of GCF amount from paper strips, en zyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay was employed to determine the amount of I L-8 in GCE The amount and concentration of IL-8 measured was 894.5 +/- 435 pg, and 445.3 +/- 468 pg/mu l for the experimental group and 747.3 +/- 543 pg and 684.7 +/- 548 pg/mu l, for the control group. The correlation among the levels of cytokine and clinical parameters was assessed. It was observe d that the concentration of IL-8 demonstrated a negative correlation with g ingival index in the LJP group. In addition, no significant correlation was found among the total amount and concentration of IL-8, GCF volume, and cl inical parameters in the control group. IL-8 is thought to enhance host def ense mechanisms against Gram-negative bacteria, thus providing protection a gainst periodontal infections. Our data demonstrate that, when both the tot al amount and concentration of IL-8 are taken into consideration, no signif icant difference between LJP and healthy subjects is shown. This may indica te a less active IL-8 production compared with healthy subjects in spite of the dense Gram bacterial stimulation in LJP.