Local and Plasma Biomarker Profiles in Localized Aggressive Periodontitis

Area of Science:

• Periodontology
• Immunology
• Biomarker Discovery

Background:

• Localized aggressive periodontitis (LAP) is associated with a systemic hyperinflammatory response to lipopolysaccharide.
• Biomarker profiles in plasma and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and their interrelations in LAP remain largely uncharacterized.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize GCF and plasma inflammatory and bone biomarker profiles in LAP patients, healthy siblings (HS), and healthy unrelated controls (HC).
• To investigate associations between local and systemic biomarkers in LAP.
• To identify biomarker groups that discriminate LAP from healthy controls.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study including 58 LAP patients, 33 HS, and 49 HC (African Americans, 5-25 years).
• Collection of clinical parameters, GCF, and plasma samples.
• Quantification of 16 inflammatory and bone resorption biomarkers using Milliplex; statistical analyses including univariate, correlation, and discriminant analyses.

Main Results:

• LAP patients exhibited higher GCF levels of cytokines, chemokines, and RANKL:OPG ratio, correlating with clinical periodontal parameters.
• Specific GCF biomarkers (IL-12p40, IL-6, IL-12p70, IL-2, MIP-1α) distinguished LAP sites from healthy sites and controls.
• Plasma RANKL levels were elevated in LAP and correlated with disease extent; a distinct plasma inflammatory profile (MIP-1α, IL-8, IL-10, INF-γ) differentiated LAP patients from controls. No GCF-plasma biomarker correlations were observed.

Conclusions:

• Distinct GCF and plasma inflammatory biomarker profiles can significantly discriminate LAP patients from healthy individuals.
• The hyperinflammatory response in LAP is largely localized, with minimal systemic influence beyond lipopolysaccharide stimulation.
• These findings suggest potential for GCF and plasma biomarkers as future diagnostic tools for LAP.