The effect of non-surgical periodontal treatment on progranulin levels

The aim of this study was to study the effect of non-surgical periodontal therapy (NSPT) on gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and serum progranulin (PGRN) levels in the early healing phases.

The study included periodontitis (test) (n = 24) and periodontal health (control) (n = 24) groups. PGRN, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), interleukin (IL)-1β, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and IL-10 levels were assessed at baseline, at the 1st, 2nd, and 14th day, and 1st and 3rd month after NSPT in serum and GCF samples by Luminex bead-based multiplex immunoassay method.

GCF PGRN, IL-1β, TNF-α, VEGF, and IL-10 levels were higher in the test group than in the control group at baseline (p < 0.05). GCF PGRN and VEGF levels decreased from day 14 after NSPT, while IL-1β levels decreased gradually from day 2 (p < 0.001). TNF-α levels rapidly increased on day 1 after NSPT and gradually decreased from day 14 (p < 0.001). GCF PGRN/ TNF-α molar ratio levels dramatically decreased from baseline day 1 after treatment and then increased gradually from day 14 to the 1st month (p < 0.001). There were no differences in serum parameters between groups and among time points (p ≥ 0.05), while a strong positive correlation was detected between GCF PGRN and IL-1β, and TNF-α levels (p < 0.001) at baseline.

GCF PGRN total amount levels decreased gradually at each time point during the early healing period after NSPT, in parallel with IL-1β. Changes in GCF PGRN and PGRN/TNF-α molar ratio may be associated with periodontal disease and post-treatment outcomes (ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT05535049).

Progranulin (PGRN) is a protein with complex physiological functions, producing granulin peptides that promote inflammatory and anti-inflammatory activity. This study aimed to evaluate PGRN levels in the presence of periodontal disease and the local and systemic changes after following non-surgical periodontal therapy (NSPT). The study included periodontitis (test) (n = 24) and periodontal health (control) (n = 24) groups. PGRN, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), interleukin (IL) -1β, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and IL-10 levels were assessed in serum and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) samples at baseline and at various time points after NSPT. GCF PGRN total amount levels were higher in the presence of periodontitis. Their levels decreased after NSPT from the 14th day in patients with periodontitis in parallel with inflammatory and regenerative mediators. However, PGRN/TNF-α molar ratio levels increased after treatment at the end of the early healing phase. Molecular mediators hold promise as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool in periodontal therapy. Monitoring the level of PGRN in GCF before and after periodontal therapy could in the future be useful for personalized care.