Concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines correlated with presence of oral pathogens and gingivitis

Human saliva is a complex fluid containing proteins such as salivary cytokines, which can be used for diagnostic purposes, particularly among the pediatric population.

Cytokine concentrations are measurable in several body fluids, tissues, and cells for diagnostic or prognostic purposes1. Human saliva is a complex fluid that has gained recent interest as a diagnostic sample to detect cytokines. In paediatrics, the use of blood cytokines for diagnostic purposes has most commonly been studied in systemic diseases such as neonatal sepsis, tuberculosis, pneumonia, and neuroinflammatory as well as rheumatological diseases. Salivary cytokines were further assessed as diagnostic biomarkers for oral conditions such as caries, gingivitis, and periodontitis

This study aimed to assess the concentrations of salivary cytokines in healthy children and adolescents and determine their associations with age, sex, and oral and dental findings.

Healthy children and adolescents aged 4–18 years were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. The concentrations of the following salivary cytokines were measured by Luminex technology: IFN-γ, IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-13, IP-10, TNF-α, and VEGF-A. Additionally, oral and dental parameters were recorded using a standardized protocol.

The results of the study are as follows:

A total of 128 participants (mean age, 10.7 years; males, 50.8%) were enrolled.

• The levels of 1β, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 were significantly higher in those with gingivitis.
• Increased salivary flow rates were negatively correlated with IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-α, and VEGF-A concentrations.

Thus, the findings of this study showed that the concentrations of most of the salivary cytokines were positively correlated with age and the presence of oral pathologies (such as gingivitis and caries) and negatively correlated with salivary flow rate.

Reference:

Rinderknecht, C., Filippi, C., Ritz, N. et al. Associations between salivary cytokines and oral health, age, and sex in healthy children. Sci Rep 12, 15991 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-20475-2