Gingival crevicular fluid EMAP-II, MIP-1α and MIP-1β levels of patients with periodontal disease

Background: Periodontal diseases may differ, which could be attributed to the factors that might modify the host response to microbial pathogens. The aim of this study was to examine gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) levels of EMAP-II, MIP-1 alpha and MIP-1 beta in patients with different periodontal diseases (EMAP-II, endothelial-monocyte activating polypeptide; MIP-1 alpha, macrophage inflammatory protein-1 alpha; MIP-1 beta, macrophage inflammatory protein-1 beta). Methods: Eighty-two subjects were included in this study. GCF samples were collected from 26 patients with generalized aggressive periodontitis (G-AgP), 26 patients with chronic periodontitis (CP), 15 with gingivitis and 15 periodontally healthy subjects. Clinical periodontal parameters were recorded. GCF EMAP-II, MIP-1 alpha and MIP-1 beta levels were quantified by enzyme immunoassay. Results: GCF EMAP-II levels of G-AgP group were higher than those of gingivitis and healthy groups (p < 0.008). G-AgP group showed a trend for higher GCF EMAP-II levels compared with CP group (p > 0.008). G-AgP, CP, gingivitis and healthy groups had comparable GCF MIP-1 alpha and MIP-1 beta levels. Conclusions: Our results suggest that elevated GCF EMAP-II could contribute to the pathogenesis of G-AgP. Alternatively, EMAP-II reflects the extent of the inflammatory activity in the periodontal tissues. At this point, MIP-1 alpha and MIP-1 beta levels in GCF do not seem to play a discriminatory role in periodontitis. Our data document for the first time the essential role of EMAP-II in the pathogenesis of different periodontal diseases.