Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 29, 2026
Examination of Oral Candida Infection in Primary Sjögren's Syndrome Patients
Published on: March 1, 2024
Salivary cystatin activity and cystatin C in experimental gingivitis in non-smokers
P C van Gils1, H S Brand, M F Timmerman
1Department of Periodontology, Academic Center for Dentistry Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Background:
Subjects with natural gingivitis and periodontitis have elevated levels of salivary cystatins compared to periodontally healthy individuals. Experimental gingivitis studies, however, have yielded conflicting results.
Aim:
The present study investigated whether experimentally induced gingivitis is associated with changes in salivary cystatin levels.
Material & Methods:
Plaque scores, bleeding indexes and whole saliva samples of 35 non-smoking young adults were collected at the start and at the end of an experimental gingivitis trial, and 3 weeks after resuming oral hygiene. The saliva samples were assayed for protein concentrations, cystatin activity and cystatin C concentration.
Results:
During experimental gingivitis, plaque and bleeding scores increased significantly in all subjects and subsequently decreased significantly after reinstalment of oral hygiene procedures. No significant changes were observed for the protein concentration, cystatin activity and cystatin C concentration. No significant relation could be established between these salivary parameters and bleeding on marginal probing.
Conclusion:
The present study confirms earlier results from Lie et al. (2001) that no significant changes occur in salivary cystatin activity and cystatin C concentration during and after experimental gingivitis.
