Evaluation of inflammasomes as biomarker following non-surgical periodontal treatment

Objective

The purpose of this study was to investigate interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-18, nod-like receptor pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3), apoptosis-related speck-like protein containing a caspase activation and recruitment domain (ASC), and caspase-1 levels in saliva and serum in different periodontal diseases and to evaluate the changes after non-surgical periodontal treatment (NSPT).

Design

A total of 45 participants, 15 healthy, 15 gingivitis, and 15 stage III grade C (SIIIGC) periodontitis patients, were included in the study. Periodontal parameters were assessed, and salivary and serum samples were collected at baseline in all groups and one and three months after NSPT in gingivitis and periodontitis groups. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to analyse IL-1β, IL-18, NLRP3, ASC, and caspase-1 levels.

Results

After NSPT, improvement was observed in all clinical parameters, along with periodontal inflamed surface area (PISA) in gingivitis and periodontitis groups. PISA scores were positively correlated with IL-1β, NLRP3, and caspase-1 at baseline (p < 0.05). Salivary and serum IL-1β, NLRP3 levels were higher in periodontitis compared to healthy controls at baseline and reduced after treatment (p < 0.05). Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed that salivary IL-1β, NLRP3, and caspase-1 had the ability to discriminate SIIIGC periodontitis patients from healthy subjects (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

In conclusion, salivary IL-1β, NLRP3, and caspase-1 are at aberrantly high levels in SIIIGC periodontitis and are remarkably decreased following NSPT; these inflammasome biomarkers may show potential utility in diagnosing and monitoring periodontitis.