Salivary Levels of NLRP3 Inflammasome‐Related Proteins as Potential Biomarkers of Periodontal Clinical Status

• Published in: Journal of periodontology (1970) 2017-12, Vol.88 (12), p.1329-1338
• Main Authors: Isaza‐Guzmán, Diana M., Medina‐Piedrahíta, Verónica M., Gutiérrez‐Henao, Carolina, Tobón‐Arroyave, Sergio I.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aggressive Periodontitis - diagnosis; Aggressive Periodontitis - metabolism; Biomarkers - analysis; CARD Signaling Adaptor Proteins - analysis; Case-Control Studies; Caspase 1 - metabolism; Caspase Activation and Recruitment Domain; Caspase‐1; Chronic Periodontitis - diagnosis; Chronic Periodontitis - metabolism; Dentistry; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Female; Humans; Inflammasomes - analysis; Interleukin-1beta - analysis; interleukin‐1beta; Male; Middle Aged; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein - analysis; nlr family, pyrin domain‐containing 3 protein; periodontal diseases; saliva; Saliva - chemistry; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0022-3492; 1943-3670
• DOI: 10.1902/jop.2017.170244

Background: Emerging evidence suggests that activation of inflammasomes plays a central mechanism in pathogenesis of periodontitis. This study aims to compare salivary levels of nod‐like receptor family pyrin domain containing protein (NLRP) 3, apoptosis‐associated speck‐like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain (ASC), cysteine aspartase (caspase)‐1, and interleukin (IL)‐1β from individuals with aggressive (AgP) or chronic periodontitis (CP) and healthy controls (HC), as well as elucidate its association with periodontal clinical status. Methods: Saliva samples from individuals with CP (n = 75), AgP (n = 20), and HC (n = 69) were collected. Periodontal status was assessed by measurement of probing depth, clinical attachment level, and extent and severity of disease. Salivary levels of analytes were analyzed by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Association between biomarkers with CP or AgP was analyzed using multivariate binary logistic regression models. Results: Significantly higher levels of NLRP3, ASC, and IL‐1β were detected in periodontitis groups in comparison to the periodontally HC group. However, no significant differences were observed for caspase‐1 levels between clinical groups, and only NLRP3 salivary concentration was significantly higher in AgP compared with CP patients. Also, positive significant correlations among NLRP3, ASC, and IL‐1β salivary concentrations and clinical parameters were observed. Logistic regression analyses revealed a strong/independent association of NLRP3, ASC, and IL‐1β salivary levels with CP and AgP. Conclusion: Although the concentration of caspase‐1 in saliva samples makes its determination useless for detection of periodontal disease and/or its severity, salivary levels of NLRP3, ASC, and IL‐1β may act as strong/independent indicators of amount and extent of periodontal breakdown in both CP and AgP and could potentially be used for prevention and therapy of this group of diseases.