Salivary S100 proteins screen periodontitis among Korean adults

This study aims to evaluate the association of salivary S100A8 and A9 proteins with periodontitis and its screening ability for periodontitis cross-sectionally.

We selected 326 participants from the Yangpyeong Cohort: 218 participants with periodontitis and 108 participants without periodontitis. Stage II-IV periodontitis according to the modification of new international classification of periodontitis was considered as periodontitis. S100A8 and A9 were assayed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Age, sex, education, smoking, drinking, exercise, and metabolic syndrome were factored as confounders. Analyses of covariance and logistic regression analysis were applied to evaluate the association of S100A8 and A9 with periodontitis. Receiver operating characteristic curve was applied for screening ability.

Those with periodontitis compared to those without periodontitis showed higher adjusted amount of S100A8 (3694 versus 6757 ng/ml, p < 0.001), but less adjusted amount of S100A9 (1341 versus 1030 ng/ml, p = 0.015). The screening ability of S100A8 and A9 on periodontitis was c-statistics of 0.69 (p < 0.001) for both S100A8 and A9, 0.67 for S100A8 and 0.63 (p < 0.001) for S100A9.

Overall, salivary S100A8 and S100A9 could be practical markers for periodontitis. Its screening ability for periodontitis could be beneficial in clinics and at home.