%0 Journal Article %J Central European Journal of Immunology %@ 1426-3912 %V 39 %N 3 %D 2014 %F Nędzi-Góra2014 %T Clinical immunologyElastase and metalloproteinase-9 concentrations in saliva in patients with chronic periodontitis %X Elastase and metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) are two of numerous proteolytic enzymes released by neutrophilic granulocytes in the course of periodontitis. The aim of the study was to determine the concentrations of elastase and MMP-9 in saliva in patients with chronic periodontitis compared to healthy individuals. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method was employed to determine the concentrations of elastase and MMP-9 in saliva in patients with chronic periodontitis and with pocket depth (PD) ≥ 6 mm and PD < 6 mm, as well as in saliva of healthy individuals. Significantly higher concentrations of elastase and MMP-9 were observed in patients with periodontitis compared to healthy individuals (p < 0.01). Also a significant difference in elastase concentration in saliva was observed between the PD ≥ 4 mm and PD < 6 mm groups and between the PD ≥ 6 mm and control groups, and statistically significant differences in MMP-9 concentrations between the PD ≥ 6 mm and control groups. No statistically significant differences were observed between the PD < 6 mm and control groups for elastase concentrations in saliva as well as between the PD ≥ 6 mm and PD < 6 mm groups, and also between the PD < 6 mm and control groups for MMP-9 concentrations in saliva. Elastase and MMP-9 concentrations in saliva can be considered as biochemical indicators of severity of periodontitis. %A Nędzi-Góra, Małgorzata %A Kostrzewa-Janicka, Jolanta %A Górska, Renata %P 357-364 %9 journal article %R 10.5114/ceji.2014.45948 %U http://dx.doi.org/10.5114/ceji.2014.45948