Analysis of Cathepsin-K Activity at Tooth and Dental Implant Sites and the Potential of This Enzyme in Reflecting Alveolar Bone Loss

Background: Cathepsin-K is an enzyme involved in bone metabolism which may make this feature important for both natural teeth and dental implants. The aims of the present study are to comparatively analyze the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF)/peri-implant sulcus fluid (PISF) cathepsin-K levels of natural teeth and dental implants, and to assess the potential relationship between this biochemical parameter and alveolar bone loss around natural teeth and dental implants. Methods: Probing depth, bleeding on probing, gingival index, and plaque index clinical parameters were assessed, and GCF/PISF samples were obtained from natural teeth/dental implants presenting with either clinical health, gingivitis/pen-implant mucositis, or chronic periodontitis/peri-implantitis. Cathepsin-K activity levels of 42 GCF samples and 54 PISF samples were determined, and marginal bone loss (MBL) measures were calculated from digitalized standardized intra-oral periapical radiographs obtained from natural teeth and dental implants by using cemento-enamel junction and the actual distance between two consecutive threads of the dental implant as reference points for natural teeth and dental implants, respectively. Results: Comparing the natural teeth group with dental implant group with regard to MBL measure, cathepsin-K activity, and GCF/PISF volume revealed no significant differences. In both natural teeth and dental implant groups, despite higher MBL measures, cathepsin-K activity, and GCF/PISF volumes with the presence of inflammation, it was the presence of alveolar bone loss that lead to significantly higher values for these parameters. Conclusion: We suggest cathepsin-K as a biochemical parameter for monitoring periodontal/pen-implant alveolar bone loss. J Periodontol 2012;83:498-505.