Increased amounts of TGF-beta in sites with tissue destruction from patients having chronic periodontitis

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of TGF- β in tissue destruction sites in patients with chronic generalized periodontitis (PP) and to compare with gingival inflammation sites, without tissue destruction in the same patients (GP) and in patients with only gingivititis (GG). The test group consisted of 17 patients with chronic periodontitis,with the average age of 48,2, (DP ± 7,5 years), with chronic periodontitis. The control group was formed by 19 subjects, with the average age of 48 (DP± 9), with chronic inflamed gingiva without signs of periodontal destruction. The analyzed clinical parameters were Plaque Index (PI), Gingival Index (GI), Pocket Probing Depth (PPD) and Attachment Level (AL). GCF samples were collected by a method of washing the furrows. The levels of TGF- β have been measured total with specific antibodies and analyzed by ELISA. The results showed that the amounts of TGF- β were significantly higher in PP sites (8,2ng ± DP 9,7) when compared with GP (2,2ng ± DP 4,3) (p < 0,001). There was no significant difference between GP e GG (4,3 ng, DP ± 9,1), and between PP e GG. In conclusion, the higher amounts of TGF- β observed in PP when compared with GP suggested that this cytokine played an important role in the process of tissue destruction in patients with chronic periodontitis.