Studies on the Lysozyme Activity in the Periodontal Diseases

Part 1 The Lysozyme Activity of Serum and Mixeb Saliva in Patients with Periodontal Disease

Abstract

The relationship between the various periodontal conditions and lysozyme activity has been investigated.
The assay conditions were preliminarily examined using a turbidimetric method, and lysozyme activities of serum and mixed saliva were measured quantitatively in normal subjects and in patients with periodontal disease.
The time-course of the changes in lysozyme activity of the serum and mixed saliva was measured afterintramuscular injection of lysozyme chloride (100mg).
These investigations were carried out to a total of 102 Japanese adults, 57 males and 45 females of the ages between 14 to 66.
The lysozyme activity of serum and mixed saliva was assayed by a modifyed method of Kakizaki. After collecting the serum and mixed saliva, they were immediately centrifuged in the cold for 15 minutes at 3000rpm. Within 6 hours of storage at 4°C., these specimens were measured.
The following results were obtained;
1) Lyoszyme activities in serum and mixed saliva from the 102 individuals were very high.
2) Serum lysozyme activity from individuals was comparatively stable when compared to the activity in mixed saliva. The mixed saliva lysozyme activity showed about five times as much as serum lysozyme activity. But both activities showed remarkable individual variations.
3) There was no relationship between serum lysozyme activity and age of subjects. But the lysozyme activity in mixed saliva was found to be highest in youth and declined with age.
4) The disparity of sex in lysozyme activity of serum and mixed saliva was not significant.
5) Serum lysozyme activity of patients with periodontal disease was higher than that of normal, and the enzyme activity of patients with acute condition was higher than that with chronic condition. There was a significant increment of the serum lysozyme activity in proportion as the disease progressed and aggravated.
6) Salivary lysozyme activity in patients with periodontal disease was lower than that of normal, especially in acute condition. The salivary lysozyme activity was decreased in proportion to the progression and aggravation of the disease.
7) No correlation was observed between serum activity and salivary activity in normal and patients with periodontal disease.
8) Lysozyme chloride (100mg) was injected into normal persons and patients with periodontal disease.
Serum lysozyme activity did not change, but after 2 or 3 hours, lysozyme activity of mixed saliva was increased 2-fold. The lysozyme activity in mixed saliva of nomal subjects was significantly higher than that in patients with periodontal disease.
It is speculated that the lysozyme activity of serum and mixed saliva is closely related to the various periodontal conditions and the mechanism of healing.