Levels of interleukin-1 beta,-8 and-10 and RANTES in gingival crevicular fluid and cell populations in adult periodontitis patients and the effect ofperiodontal treatment

Background: Various cytokines have been identified at sites of chronic infl ammation such as periodontitis. Cytokines are synthesized in response to ba cteria and their products, inducing and maintaining an inflammatory respons e in the periodontium. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the involvement of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), IL-8, and IL-10 and RANT ES (regulated on activation, normally T cell expressed and secreted) and th e cell populations associated with the immune response in destructive perio dontitis, as well as the effect of periodontal therapy on cytokine levels i n gingival crevicular fluid (GCF). Methods: Data were obtained from 12 patients with moderate to advanced peri odontitis and 6 healthy controls. Patients presenting at least 2 sites with greater than or equal to2 mm clinical attachment loss were included in the destructive peri odontitis group. After monitoring for 4 months, only 6 pa tients showed destructive periodontitis and GCF samples and soft tissues bi opsies were collected from these patients. GCF samples and biopsies were co llected both from active (12 CGF samples and 6 biopsies) and inactive (12 C GF samples and 6 biopsies) sites. The comparison with healthy controls was carried out by collecting GCF samples from 6 healthy volunteers (12 samples ) and biopsies during the surgical removal of wisdom teeth. In periodontal patients, clinical data and GCF samples were obtained prior to periodontal treatment (72 samples) and 2 months after periodontal therapy (72 samples). GCF was collected using a paper strip; eluted and enzyme-linked immunoabso rbent assays (ELISA) were performed to determine cytokine levels. The infla mmatory infiltrate was analyzed by immunohistochemistry of gingival biopsy samples with monoclonal antibodies against CD3, CD8, CD4, CD11c, and CD19 a ntigens. Results: Cellular components of the inflammatory infiltrate include B and T lymphocytes and monocyte/macrophages. Active sites contained a higher numb er of B lymphocytes and macrophages. IL-8 and IL-1 beta and RANTES in GCF w ere detected in the majority of sites from periodontal patients (100%, 94% and 87%, respectively); IL-10 was found in only 43%. IL-8 was the only cyto kine detected in the GCF (75%) of the control group. Moreover, IL-1 beta le vels were significantly higher in active sites versus inactive sites (P < 0 .05). IL-8 and IL-10 and RANTES were increased in active sites; however, di fferences were not significant (P > 0.05). A positive correlation between t he IL-8 and RANTES (r = 0.677, P = 0.05) was observed in periodontitis pati ents. Periodontal therapy reduced the total amount of IL-1 beta, IL-8, and IL-10 and RANTES. Data showed a weak correlation between the clinical param eters and the total amount of cytokines in periodontitis. Conclusions: These data suggest that the amount of crevicular IL-1 beta, IL -8, and IL-10 and RANTES is associated with periodontal status. Removal of the bacterial plaque reduces the antigenic stimuli and consequently could m odulate the chemokines present in GCE We propose that the dynamic interacti ons between cytokines, their production rates, and their quantity could rep resent factors controlling the induction, perpetuation, and collapse of the cytokine network present in the periodontal disease.