Salivary and Gingival Crevicular Fluid Levels of Interleukin-1β, Interleukin-17, Interleukin-36β, Interleukin-37 and Interleukin-38 In Healthy and Periodontitis Patients: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Aim & Hypothesis: To compare the levels of IL-1β, IL-17, IL-36β, IL-37 and IL-38 in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and saliva collected from periodontitis patients and healthy subjects. The hypothesis of the study was that the levels of IL-1β, IL-17, IL-36β, IL-37 and IL-38 in GCF and saliva would be different in periodontitis patients compared to healthy subjects. Materials & Methods: In this cross-sectional study, clinical data, GCF and saliva samples were collected from 40 participants, divided into healthy and periodontitis groups based on specific selection criteria. The samples were analyzed by a blind assessor using Luminex multiplex technology to quantify the levels of IL-1β, IL-17, IL-36β, IL-37, and IL-38. Statistical analyses included chi-square or Fisher's exact tests for categorical variables and t-tests or Mann-Whitney U tests for continuous variables. Generalized linear models (GLMs) adjusted for age, gender and calculated saliva weight, and generalized estimating equations (GEE) were used for correlated data. Results: GCF levels of IL-1β and IL-17, both amount and concentration, were significantly elevated in periodontitis patients (p < 0.001). Conversely, IL-36β concentration in GCF was reduced in periodontitis patients. Additionally, the concentrations of IL-37 and IL-38 in GCF were markedly lower in periodontitis patients (p=0.046, p=0.012 respectively). Salivary IL-1β concentration was also significantly higher in periodontitis patients (p= 0.005). Conclusions: Our study supports our hypothesis that periodontitis patients have distinct IL-1β, IL-17, IL-36β, IL-37, and IL-38 GCF and salivary profiles compared to periodontally healthy subjects. Further studies are needed to confirm if IL-1β, IL-17, IL-36β, IL-37, and IL-38 can be used as diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets for periodontitis.