elastin and Periodontitis

The presence of lysozyme in human gingiva has not previously been demonstrated. In this study, we looked for evidence for the potential role of lysozyme as a protector of gingival elastic fibres. The objective of this study was also to determine the ex vivo susceptibility to hydrolysis of gingival elastic fibres from patients with or without periodontal disease by human leukocyte elastase and by human cathepsin G.. Using gingival tissue sections from eight control, 10 gingivitis and 10 periodontitis patients, we evaluated the area fraction occupied by gingival elastic fibres (after selective staining) by the use of automated image analysis. In the ex vivo experiments, serial tissue sections from four control, four gingivitis, four young periodontitis and four aged periodontitis patients were submitted to the action of human leukocyte elastase and cathepsin G, after which enzymatic activities were determined by image analysis. Indirect immunodetection of lysozyme was also done on tissue sections for all patients included in this study.. Large variations of the area fraction occupied by elastic fibres were observed in human gingiva from young and aged patients with and without periodontal disease. In control and gingivitis patients, leukocyte elastase and cathepsin G had high comparable elastin solubilizing activities. With young and aged periodontitis patients, the two serine proteinases had weak elastin solubilizing activities. Lysozyme appeared to be present at the periphery of gingival elastic fibres in periodontitis patients.. Lysozyme can be considered an important natural protector of elastic fibres in pathological gingiva.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Cathepsin G; Cathepsins; Contractile Proteins; Elastic Tissue; Elastin; Enzyme Inhibitors; Extracellular Matrix Proteins; Female; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; Gingiva; Gingival Hemorrhage; Gingivitis; Humans; Hydrolysis; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Leukocyte Elastase; Male; Middle Aged; Muramidase; Periodontal Attachment Loss; Periodontal Pocket; Periodontitis; Serine Endopeptidases; Young Adult

Degradation of preelastic fibres (oxytalan and elaunin) and mature elastic fibres by human leukocyte elastase (HLE) was investigated using automated image analysis. Specimens from two young healthy adults were used. Although HLE hydrolyzed both fibre types, mature elastic fibres exhibited greater susceptibility to this effect than preelastic fibres. Avocado and soybean unsaponifiables are widely prescribed in rheumatology and parodontology and have also been the focus of ex vivo experiments aimed at determining whether they protect elastic fibres against degradation by HLE. Findings from the present study indicate that avocado and soybean unsaponifiables protect all types of gingival elastic fibres from degradation by HLE. Avocado and soybean unsaponifiables may be beneficial in patients with gingival inflammation and parodontitis, since HLE plays a major role in these disease states.

Topics: Adult; Drug Combinations; Elastin; Gingiva; Gingivitis; Glycine max; Humans; Image Cytometry; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; In Vitro Techniques; Lauraceae; Leukocyte Elastase; Periodontitis; Phytosterols; Plant Extracts; Vitamin E