Increased plasma levels epithelial cell-derived neutrophil-activating peptide 78/CXCL5 in periodontitis patients undergoing supportive therapy

Aim: To investigate the influence of cigarette smoking on plasma epithelial cell-derived neutrophil-activating peptide-78 (CXCL5/ENA-78) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in supportive therapy periodontitis patients. Materials and Methods: Plasma concentrations of CXCL5/ENA-78 and IL-6 were evaluated in 167 systemically healthy subjects (54 smokers and 113 non-smokers) divided into four groups: non-smokers with periodontitis (n=90), smokers with periodontitis (n=49), healthy non smokers (n=23) and healthy smokers (n=5). Results: Clinical probing depth (CPD) of smokers with periodontitis were significantly greater than those of non-smoking patients (p<0.05). Although clinical attachment loss (CAL) and the number of deep sites affected were greater in the smokers with periodontitis, these differences were not significant. Periodontitis patients had significantly higher plasma IL-6 and ENA-78 than healthy subjects (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in IL-6 between smokers and nonsmokers with periodontitis but CXCL5/ENA-78 concentrations were significantly greater in smokers with periodontitis (p=0.006). Plasma CXCL5/ENA-78 correlated with CPD, CAL and tobacco consumption (all p<0.05). Conclusion: Plasma CXCL5/ENA-78 concentrations are a good systemic indicator of the inflammatory process and disease severity in subjects with periodontitis and in addition are potential indicator of inflammatory effects of cigarette smoking. Further studies are required to elucidate the biological mechanisms underlining this increase in CXCL5/ENA-78