Abstract
To clarify a role of lysosomal cysteine proteinases, cathepsins B, H and L in periodontal tissue destruction, levels of their activities in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) from patients with chronic adult periodontitis were determined using 4-methyl-7-coumarylamide substrates. All of the enzyme activities were positively correlated with the GCF volume, but not with the probing depth. Higher levels of the respective activities were found at sites with more serious signs of periodontal disease. The specific activity of each enzyme in GCF, however, was progressively decreased as the GCF volume increased, indicating the negative correlation between GCF volume and each enzyme activity. The results also suggest that cathepsins B, H and L are selectively released into gingival crevices at a mild stage of the periodontitis and that the levels of these enzymes in the GCF may be clinical parameters that reflect the degree of the periodontal tissue destruction.
