抄録
The present investigation was designed to clarify the possible relationship between the secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and the periodontal clinical parameters or the presence of periodontopathic bacteria in subgingival plaque.
SLPI levels in GCF were determined with a commercially available ELISA system and the neutrophil elastase (NE) activity in GCF was measured with a low molecular weight substrate S-2484. Subgingival plaque samples were tested for the presence of eight periodontopathic bacteria by DNA probe analysis.
In thirty two examined sites from ten patients with periodontal maintenance care, the SLPI levels were positively associated with the GCF volume and the presence of gingival inflammation. Statistically significant negative correlations were found between SLPI levels and the presence of Porphyromonas gingivalis and Treponema denticola, whereas, the NE activity increased in the presence of the bacteria.
The results demonstrated that the bacteria with the capacity to produce proteolytic enzymes degraded or inactivated the protease inhibitor, suggesting that the proteolytic damage of periodontal tissue might be caused by the decrease of active protease inhibitor.
