Oral biofluid levels of Activin-A and interleukin-1beta in stage III periodontitis.

OBJECTIVES: Activin-A belongs to the transforming growth factor-beta superfamily and is a multifunctional cytokine that plays a role in inflammation, immune response, tissue repair and regeneration. Proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) can increase Activin-A expression in various cell types. This study aims to evaluate gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and salivary Activin-A and IL-beta levels in stage III periodontitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 23 patients with stage III periodontitis, 26 with gingivitis and 26 periodontally healthy individuals were included. Full-mouth clinical periodontal indices were recorded, unstimulated whole saliva and GCF samples were obtained, Activin-A and IL-1beta total amounts were determined by ELISA. Statistical comparisons were performed using non-parametric tests. Receiver operating characteristics curve was used for estimating the area under the curve (AUC). RESULTS: Periodontitis group exhibited significantly lower GCF Activin-A levels but higher IL-1beta levels than the periodontally healthy group (p < 0.05). Gingivitis group had similar GCF Activin-A and IL-1beta levels to the periodontitis and periodontally healthy groups (p > 0.05). Salivary Activin-A and IL-1beta concentrations were similar among study groups (p > 0.05). GCF Activin-A level showed an excellent diagnostic performance (an AUC value of 0.82 with 87% sensitivity) to discriminate periodontitis from periodontal health. CONCLUSIONS: For the first time, this study demonstrated oral biofluid levels of Activin-A in periodontal health and diseases. Within the limits of the study, it might be suggested that diseased sites in periodontitis are associated with reduced Activin-A and increased IL-1beta levels in GCF. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Reduced GCF Activin-A levels and the accompanying increase in IL-1beta might be associated with diseased sites in stage III periodontitis.