Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 14, 2026
Isolation and Analysis of Traceable and Functionalized Extracellular Vesicles from the Plasma and Solid Tissues
Published on: October 17, 2022
Effect of Periodontal Therapy on Salivary Extracellular Vesicle Cargos: An Exploratory Study
Jenny Wang1, Chun Liu1, Andrew Lai2
1The University of Queensland, School of Dentistry, Center for Orofacial Regeneration, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (COR3), Epigenetics Nanodiagnostic and Therapeutic Group, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Aim:
To investigate longitudinal changes in salivary extracellular vesicle (EV) sub-populations and their associated cytokine profiles following non-surgical periodontal therapy (NSPT) in patients with Stage III-IV periodontitis.
Materials And Methods:
This exploratory study recruited 25 patients, and unstimulated saliva samples were collected at baseline, 3 months (T1) and 6 months (T2) post-NSPT. Clinical parameters, including probing pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment loss (CAL), bleeding on probing (BOP) and plaque index (PI), were recorded. Salivary host EVs were isolated using bead-based immunoaffinity capture method and analysed for sub-population markers and cytokine cargo.
Results:
Significant improvements in PPD, CAL, BOP and PI were observed at T1 and T2 compared to baseline (p < 0.05). Subgroup analysis identified five suboptimal responders with persistent deep pockets (≥ 4 sites with ≥ 5 mm) at T1 and T2. At 6 months, levels of CD63+, CD24+ and CD142+ host EVs, as well as host EV-associated interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-2, were reduced compared to baseline, while IL-5 and IL-10 levels were elevated. Our exploratory analysis showed that suboptimal responders exhibited higher expressions of CD81+, CD326+, CD45+ and CD133+ host EVs at T1 compared to responders.
Conclusions:
This exploratory study demonstrated that NSPT led to clinical improvements accompanied by changes in the composition and cytokine cargo of salivary host EVs. Alterations in salivary host EV sub-populations and cytokine profiles may have potential utility as biomarkers for monitoring treatment outcomes in periodontitis.
