The Gingival Neutrophil Elastase Activity in Chronic Periodontitis Patients with Active/Passive Smoking

Abstract

A relationship between periodontal degradation and smoking has been demonstrated by epidemiological evidence. While the mechanism of this effect remains unknown, it may be related to a host-response reaction. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of smoking on gingival neutrophil elastase activity and biochemical markers of periodontal degradation in subjects with active/passive smoking. Sixty-eight subjects with moderate chronic periodontitis were examined. Clinical records of the periodontal probing depth (PD), plaque index (PlI), gingival index (GI) and amount of gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) were made in each individual. The extracellular elastase activity was measured in GCF samples using a chromogenic low molecular substrate, while α1-antitrypsin, elastase α1-antitrypsin complex and saliva cotinine levels were measured using ELISA. The following results were obtained. 1) Smokers had a significantly lower GI than non smokers. 2) Based on the amount of saliva cotinine, 22 of the self-reported non-smokers were actually passive smokers, and 12 were actually non-smokers. 3) The non/passive-smokers had significantly lower extracellular elastase activities than the non-smokers. 4) No significant differences in the α1-antitrypsin and elastase α1-antitrypsin complex levels were observed between non-smokers, passive smokers, and smokers. 5) The amount of saliva cotinine was weakly correlated with the α1-antitrypsin concentration in smokers. These results indicated that passive smoking/smoking altered the gingival neutrophil elastase activity and the amount of α1-antitrypsin,suggesting that passive smoking/smoking may interfere with the periodontal host defense system. Furthermore, alterations in the amount of α1-antitrypsin in the GCF appear to be a biochemical marker of periodontal degradation in individuals with a passive smoking/smoking habit. Nihon Shishubyo Gakkai Kaishi (J Jpn Periodontol) 49: 198-206, 2007.