Significance of IL-8 and HMGB1 expression in peripheral blood and gingival sulcus fluid of patients with chronic periodontitis.

OBJECTIVE

To quantify interleukin 8 (IL-8) and high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) levels in the serum and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of patients with chronic periodontitis, and to evaluate their clinical use as serum biomarkers for disease diagnosis.

METHODS

A total of 92 patients with chronic periodontitis and 71 healthy controls were recruited from Department of Stomatology at Pearl River Hospital between August 2020 and August 2021. Clinical data, including plaque index (PLI), pocket probing depth (PD), clinical attachment loss (CAL), gingival sulcus bleeding index (SBI), and calculus index (CI), were recorded for all participants. Serum and GCF levels of IL-8 and HMGB1 were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTS

No significant intergroup differences were observed in age or sex distribution (P>0.05). The periodontitis group showed significantly higher GI, PD, PLI, SBI, CAL, and tooth mobility scores compared to the healthy control group (P<0.05). These indices increased progressively with disease severity (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

IL-8 and HMGB1 levels in the serum and GCF of patients with chronic periodontitis are positively correlated with periodontal inflammation. Combined measurement of serum IL-8 and HMGB1 may serve as an approach for the diagnosis and monitoring of chronic periodontitis.