Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to compare the levels of Gingival Crevicular Fluid (GCF) interleukin 8 (IL-8), matrix metalloproteinase 8 (MMP-8) and advanced glycated-end products (AGEs) in a cohort of type 1 diabetic (T1D) subjects and healthy controls. MATERIAL AND METHODS: GCF samples and periodontal examination were assessed in 50 subjects with T1D (30 males and 20 females; mean age: 35.2 years) recruited from the Diabetology Unit of the Geneva University Hospitals and in 50 control subjects matched for gender, age and smoking status. Samples were assessed for IL-8 and MMP-8 using a bead array multianalyte detection system and for AGEs the ELISA. The two groups were compared using the Wilcoxon signed rank test. RESULTS: The mean HbA1c differed significantly between the groups (8.3% for the T1D group vs. 5.2% for the control group, p < 0.001). T1D subjects had significantly more plaque and gingival inflammation and presented more sites with bleeding on probing compared to the controls. The GCF levels of IL-8, MMP-8 and AGEs did not differ significantly between the groups. Further analysis of the GCF markers in younger (<40 years) and older (≥40 years) cohorts, revealed no significant differences between younger diabetics and controls or between older diabetics and controls. When the groups were divided according to their glycemic status (HbA1c 6.1-8, and > 8%), again no significant differences could be identified for any of the biochemical markers. CONCLUSIONS: T1D subjects, particularly the younger ones, exhibited more inflammation compared to the matched healthy controls. Results on the GCF expression of IL-8, MMP-8 and AGEs did not differ between the groups. The diabetic population of our cohort was for the most part fairly-controlled, with little if any complications and with presence of only mild type of periodontal disease, as 68% had gingivitis.