Influence of smoking on gingival crevicular fluid cytokines in severe chronic periodontitis

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to compare the expression of 22 chemokines and cytokines in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) from smokers and non-smokers with periodontitis and periodontally healthy control subjects.

Materials and methods: Forty subjects with generalized severe chronic periodontitis (20 smokers and 20 non-smokers) and 12 periodontally healthy control subjects participated in this study. Four diseased and two healthy sites were selected from each of the periodontitis subjects. GCF samples were collected and cytokines analysed utilizing a multiplexed immunoassay (Luminex(®) ). Statistical analyses employed non-parametric tests including the Mann-Whitney and Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank tests.

Results: Compared with healthy control subjects, GCF in subjects with chronic periodontitis contained significantly higher amounts of interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-12(p40) (pro-inflammatory cytokines); IL-8, macrophage chemotactic protein (MCP)-1, macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1α, regulated on activation normal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES) (chemokines); IL-2, IFN-γ, IL-3, IL-4 (Th1/Th2 cytokines); IL-15 [regulator of T-cells and natural killer (NK) cells]. Smokers displayed decreased amounts of pro-inflammatory cytokines [IL-1α, IL-6, IL-12(p40)], chemokines (IL-8, MCP-1, MIP-1, RANTES), and regulators of T-cells and NK cells (IL-7, IL-15).

Conclusions: Periodontitis subjects had significantly elevated cytokine and chemokine profiles. Smokers exhibited a decrease in several pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines and certain regulators of T-cells and NK-cells. This reflects the immunosuppressant effects of smoking which may contribute to an enhanced susceptibility to periodontitis.

Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest and source of funding statement: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interests.

© 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

Figures

Figure 1

Pro-inflammatory cytokines: Median amounts (pg/30s): a) IL-1α b) IL-1β c) IL-6 d) IL-12(p40) e) GM-CSF. HC=healthy control; H (pooled) =healthy sites in periodontitis subjects; D (pooled) =diseased sites in periodontitis subjects; NH=healthy sites in periodontitis non-smoking subjects; SH=healthy sites in periodontitis smoking subjects; ND=diseased sites in periodontitis non-smoking subjects; SD=diseased sites in periodontitis smoking subjects. * p≤0.05, ** p≤0.01, *** p≤0.005, + p≤0.001, ++ p≤0.0005, +++ p≤0.0001.

Figure 2

Chemokines: Median amounts (pg/30s): a) IL-8 b) IP-10 c) MCP-1 d) MIP-1 e) RANTES f) Eotaxin. HC=healthy control; H (pooled) =healthy sites in periodontitis subjects; D (pooled) =diseased sites in periodontitis subjects; NH=healthy sites in periodontitis non-smoking subjects; SH=healthy sites in periodontitis smoking subjects; ND=diseased sites in periodontitis non-smoking subjects; SD=diseased sites in periodontitis smoking subjects. * p≤0.05, ** p≤0.01, *** p≤0.005, + p≤0.001, ++ p≤0.0005, +++ p≤0.0001.

Figure 3

Th1 and Th2 cytokines: Median amounts (pg/30s): a) IL-2 b) IFN-γ c) IL-3 d) IL-4. HC=healthy control; H (pooled) =healthy sites in periodontitis subjects; D (pooled) =diseased sites in periodontitis subjects; NH=healthy sites in periodontitis non-smoking subjects; SH=healthy sites in periodontitis smoking subjects; ND=diseased sites in periodontitis non-smoking subjects; SD=diseased sites in periodontitis smoking subjects. * p≤0.05, ** p≤0.01, *** p≤0.005, + p≤0.001, ++ p≤0.0005, +++ p≤0.0001.

Figure 4

Regulators of T-cells and NK cells: Median amounts (pg/30s): a) IL-7 b) IL-15 HC=healthy control, H (pooled)=healthy sites in periodontitis subjects, D (pooled)=diseased sites in periodontitis subjects, NH=healthy sites in periodontitis non-smoking subjects, SH=healthy sites in periodontitis smoking subjects, ND=diseased sites in periodontitis non-smoking subjects, SD=diseased sites in periodontitis smoking subjects. * p≤0.05, ** p≤0.01, *** p≤0.005, + p≤0.001, ++ p≤0.0005, +++ p≤0.0001.