Platelet association with gingival tissue inflammation

Platelets (PL) may be involved in the inflammatory process through the release of a variety of factors which could contribute to gingival tissue injury. Thus, conditions which result in the localized discharge of PL constitutents could lead to amplification of the inflammatory process at these sites. The purpose of this study was to determine if there was evidence of PL activation in gingival crevicular fluid and whether the degree of gingival inflammation, as measured by the gingival index (GI), was associated with the degree of platelet activation. This was monitored by assaying for beta-thromboglobulin (beta-TG), a platelet specific protein released from alpha granules of PL when activated. One uL samples of the fluids were obtained from human subjects from gingival sites with various GI scores. Fluid samples were also obtained at probe-induced bleeding gingival crevicular sites. beta-TG levels in the various fluids obtained from the crevice were determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA). The RIA data indicated that detectable beta-TG levels were observed in all samples, the means ranging from 5.5 ng/ml to 45.2 ng/ml. Additionally, a positive association between the GI scores of 0 and 1 and the beta-TG levels where observed. For GI scores of 2 and above the beta-TG concentrations appeared to approach a maximum value. These findings provide evidence for PL activation and suggest a relationship with gingival inflammation.