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The association between neutrophil numbers and interleukin‐1α concentrations in gingival crevicular fluid of smokers and non‐smokers with periodontal disease
Author(s) -
Petropoulos Georgios,
McKay Ian J.,
Hughes Francis J.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of clinical periodontology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.456
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1600-051X
pISSN - 0303-6979
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-051x.2004.00489.x
Subject(s) - medicine , periodontitis , periodontal disease , gastroenterology , interleukin 8 , interleukin , immunology , absolute neutrophil count , cytokine , toxicity , neutropenia
Objectives: To test whether neutrophil numbers are directly correlated with interleukin‐1 α (IL‐1 α ) concentrations in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of patients with periodontitis, and to investigate the effects of smoking on these parameters. Materials and Methods: A total of 99 GCF samples from 33 patients (14 smokers) suffering from severe chronic periodontitis were collected using Durapore™ filter strips. Polymorphonuclear leucocyte (PMN) numbers were counted using a Coulter cell counter and IL‐1 α levels were determined by ELISA. Total GCF protein was measured by Bio‐Rad assay as a surrogate measure of GCF volume. Results: Mean IL‐1 α concentrations were significantly reduced in smokers compared with non‐smokers (non‐smokers: 3.29±2.02 pg/ μ g protein, smokers 1.59±1.13 pg/ μ g protein). There was no association between PMN numbers and IL‐1 α concentrations found when analysed either by site or by patient. PMN numbers were not significantly different between the two groups (non‐smokers: 1.16 × 10 6 ±1.04 × 10 6 ; smokers: 7.30 × 10 5 ±8.07 × 10 5 ). Smoking did not affect mean total protein concentration of samples. Conclusions: Smoking significantly decreased IL‐1 α concentrations in GCF without affecting GCF volume sampled. The lack of association between IL‐1 α concentration and neutrophil numbers suggests that the reduced IL‐1 α concentrations seen in smokers is independent of any possible effect of smoking on neutrophil chemotaxis, and further suggests that smoking may directly inhibit IL‐1 α production.