Clinical and molecular dynamics during the resolution of human experimental gingivitis: A scoping review

This scoping review evaluates the recovery pattern of host responses, in terms of immune regulation and tissue remodeling, in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) during experimental gingivitis (EG) resolution phase.

Electronic database and hand searches were conducted to screen the literature published from January 1960 to December 2024. The selected studies were randomized and non-randomized controlled trials evaluating the changes of clinical parameters and host responses in GCF mediators during EG, focusing on the baseline and the resolution phase. Due to the heterogeneity of the included studies, a meta-analysis was not conducted. Evidence quality and risk of bias were assessed.

A total of 17 studies with 303 volunteers met the inclusion criteria, analyzing four clinical parameters and 58 biomarkers in GCF samples. Pro-inflammatory cytokines and mediators associated with tissue remodeling, such as IL-1α, IL-1β, MMP-8, and ALP increased during EG induction and decreased during EG resolution, similar to the trends in the clinical parameters. In contrast, the levels of MIP-1β and IL-10 were reduced during EG induction and elevated during EG resolution. In addition, the levels of IL-1β and ALP were able to return to baseline level at the end of the resolution phase.

This scoping review showed that, following an average EG resolution period of 7 to 21 days, clinical signs of inflammation improved or restored. Notably, IL-1β and ALP exhibited a return of levels to their pre-disease (baseline) state, suggesting their potential as indicators for monitoring dynamic changes in inflammatory status at the molecular level during EG resolution.