Neutrophil elastase activity, levels of prostaglandin E-2, and matrix metalloproteinase-8 in refractory periodontitis sites in smokers and non-smokers

The study was aimed to determine elastase activity, levels of prostaglandin E-2 (PGE(2)), and matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8) in gingival crevicula r fluid (GCF) in 20 smokers and 20 non-smokers, mean age 47.4 (+/-2.9 SD) y ears with refractory periodontal diseases. GCF was collected with intracrev icular washing from four sites in each subject. Clinical assessments, inclu ded gingival index, probing depth, clinical attachment level, bleeding on p robing, bone height, and plaque accumulation. Smokers had a significantly h igher percentage of the gingival margin covered by plaque (P%Im), higher nu mber of sites with probing pocket depth greater than or equal to 5 mm, high er mean values of probing pocket depth and probing attachment level (P < 0. 01). Smokers had significantly higher mean levels of neutrophil elastase ac tivity (P < 0.01) in the supernatants than non-smokers did. In sites with m atching pocket depths, neutrophil elastase activity was significantly highe r in smokers (P < 0.001) than in non-smokers. In sites with high levels of MMP-8 the PGE(2) levels were significantly (P < 0.001) higher compared to s ites with low levels in smokers as well as in non-smokers. A significant co rrelation was found between probing pocket depth and levels of MMP-8 (P < 0 .001) and in non-smokers between probing pocket depth and levels of PGE(2) (P < 0.05).