Inflammatory and immune mediators in crevicular fluid from HIV-infected injecting drug users

Gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) levels of the polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) lysosomal enzyme beta-glucuronidase (beta G), the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta), and immunoglobulins (IgA, IgG, and IgM) were examined in 16 HIV seropositive (HIV+) and 10 HIV seronegative (HIV-) injecting drug users (IDU). Each subject received a periodontal examination including assessment of probing depth, attachment level, bleeding on probing, and plaque and calculus accumulation. GCF was collected from the mesial surfaces of premolar and molar teeth using filter paper strips. Although HIV+ subjects had a significantly lower number of peripheral blood CD4+ T cells/mm3 compared to HIV- subjects, there were no significant differences in mean probing depth, percentage of sites exhibiting bleeding on probing, or plaque and calculus accumulation between HIV- and HIV+ subjects. When the GCF components were analyzed, we found no significant differences between HIV- and HIV+ subjects in GCF levels of beta G, IL-1 beta, IgA or IgM, but GCF levels of IgG were significantly increased in HIV+ subjects. When sites were categorized by probing depth, no differences in the levels of beta G, IgA, IgG, and IgM existed between sites with probing depth < or = 3 mm compared to sites with probing depth > or = 4 mm in both HIV- and HIV+ IDU. However, levels of IL-1 beta in GCF were increased in the deeper sites (> or = 4 mm) in HIV+ IDU when compared to sites with PD < or = 3 mm. Analyzing GCF constituents in relation to the CD4 cell number, no differences were found between subjects with < or = 400 or > 400 CD4 cells/mm3 with respect to the levels of IL-1 beta, IgG, and IgM. However, the level beta G was significantly decreased in the HIV+ IDU with < or = 400 CD4 cells when compared to those with > 400 CD4 cells/mm3, while levels of IgA were significantly higher in HIV+ subjects with < or = 400 CD4 cells/mm3. Our results suggest that levels of IgG, and in immunodeficient subjects IgA were increased in GCF of HIV+ IDU while decreased levels of beta G were found in immunodeficient HIV+ IDU. These findings may be local manifestations of systemic alterations and suggest that analysis of GCF may provide insight into the immune and inflammatory responses of HIV-infected individuals to periodontal microorganisms.