TY - JOUR JO - Central European Journal of Immunology SN - 1426-3912 VL - 39 IS - 3 PY - 2014 ID - Nędzi-Góra2014 TI - Clinical immunologyElastase and metalloproteinase-9 concentrations in saliva in patients with chronic periodontitis AB - 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. AU - Nędzi-Góra, Małgorzata AU - Kostrzewa-Janicka, Jolanta AU - Górska, Renata SP - 357 EP - 364 DA - 2014 DO - 10.5114/ceji.2014.45948 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.5114/ceji.2014.45948 ER -