LIGHT protein: A novel gingival crevicular fluid biomarker associated with increased probing depth after periodontal surgery
Abstract
Aim
To evaluate the protein profiles in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) in relation to clinical outcomes after periodontal surgery and examine if any selected proteins affect the mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in human gingival fibroblasts.
Materials and Methods
This exploratory study included 21 consecutive patients with periodontitis. GCF was collected, and the protein pattern (n = 92) and clinical parameters were evaluated prior to surgery and 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery. Fibroblastic gene expression was analysed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction.
Results
Surgical treatment reduced periodontal pocket depth (PPD) and changed the GCF protein pattern. Twelve months after surgery, 17% of the pockets showed an increase in PPD. Levels of a number of proteins in the GCF decreased after surgical treatment but increased with early signs of tissue destruction, with LIGHT being one of the proteins that showed the strongest association. Furthermore, LIGHT up-regulated the mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8 and MMP9 in human gingival fibroblasts.
Conclusions
LIGHT can potentially detect subjects at high risk of periodontitis recurrence after surgical treatment. Moreover, LIGHT induces the expression of inflammatory cytokines and tissue-degrading enzymes in gingival fibroblasts.
Clinical Relevance
Scientific rationale for the study: No biomarkers are known to identify individuals who will not respond to conventional treatment of periodontitis or exhibit disease recurrence; so target molecules for adjunctive therapy to stop further tissue loss are needed.
Principal findings: In the gingival cervicular fluid, LIGHT protein was found to be reduced after surgical treatment and increased with early signals of disease recurrence. LIGHT up-regulated the mRNA expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8 and MMP9 in human gingival fibroblasts.
Practical implications: LIGHT may act as a biomarker to detect individuals at high risk of disease recurrence and should be further investigated as a target for additional treatment.
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