Increased Interleukin-1β Concentration in Gingival Crevicular Fluid as a Characteristic of Periodontitis

The levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) have been reported to be higher in sites with periodontitis than in healthy controls. This may be the result of a more severe inflammation and/or constitutional differences in IL-1β production. Our aim was to test the hypothesis that the level of IL-1β in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) is a characteristic trait of periodontitis, regardless of the degree of tissue destruction. As a secondary aim, we investigated the correlation between IL-1β and neutrophil elastase. An untreated population was used.

GCF samples from inflamed sites in 13 patients with gingivitis (GG), and from inflamed sites with shallow (GP) and deep (PP) pockets in 18 patients with periodontitis were collected. Interleukin-1β, elastase-α-1-antitrypsin complex (E-A1AT), α-1-antitrypsin (A1AT), and α-2-macroglobulin (A2MG) were measured with ELISA. Elastase activity was measured with a specific substrate.

The concentration of IL-1β was significantly higher in PP than in GG, but no significant differences were detected between PP and GP. A weak positive correlation between the elastase activity and IL-1β was also observed. The elastase activity had a tendency to be higher in PP, although no significant difference was found among the 3 groups. The concentrations of E-A1AT, A1AT, and A2MG were similar in the 3 types of sites.

The levels of IL-1β in GCF were increased in samples from periodontitis patients, regardless of the severity of disease at the sampled site, suggesting that the levels of IL-1β are typical of a given patient. J Periodontol 1999;70:1457-1463.