Introduction: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are key enzymes involved in degradation of extracellular colagen matrix during periodontal disease progression. The aim of our work was to study the levels of MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-7, MMP-9 and MMP-10 in saliva of patients with chronic periodontitis. Materials and methods: The study included 22 patients with chronic periodontal disease and 15 controls. We collect unstimulated whole saliva from all volunteers included in the study. Salivary levels of mentioned MMPs were analyzed using magnetic bead-based multiplex assays and Luminex technology. Results: MMP-1, MMP-7, MMP-9 and MMP-10 present statistically increased salivary levels at patients with periodontal disease versus the control group (p<0.05). Salivary level of MMP-2 at patients with chronic periodontitis was increased but statistically insignificant compared with healthy subjects (p=0.1). Conclusions. The increased level of these enzymes in patients diagnosed with periodontal disease reflects their implication in periodontal tissue degradation. Saliva is an excellent fluid useful in monitoring the severity of this oral disease that affects about half of the adult population around the world.
Periodontal disease is a chronic pathology, resulting from the action of microbial communities that become dysbiotic, accompanied by immune response impairment in periodontal tissues, leading to an inflammatory process that promotes progressive tissue destruction. Abnormal activation of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD-), leucine-rich repeat (LRR-), and pyrin domain (PYD)-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) promotes chronic inflammation. Research shows that leptin and oxidative stress (OS) are involved in the activation of the inflammatory pathways, including the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome. In this context, the main objective of our study was to determine the levels of the NLRP3, leptin, and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in the saliva of patients with periodontal disease. The present cross-sectional study included 44 patients with periodontitis, while the control group was represented by 19 clinically and biologically healthy adults. Saliva samples were collected from all participants in the study, and salivary levels of NLRP3, leptin, and TAC were determined using the Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and commercial kits. The results show that NLRP3 had statistically significantly increased levels in the study group versus the control group (p< 0.00001). Although TAC was also increased in the patients compared to the healthy subjects (p=0.491), no statistically significant differences were found. On the other hand, leptin levels were significantly lower in periodontitis patients compared to the control group (p< 0.00001). The results obtained in the present study are promising, but further studies are needed to obtain a more comprehensive understanding of the complex molecular mechanisms underlying periodontal disease.
