Aim: Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1beta) and prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) are key inflammatory mediators involved in periodontal disease. The purposes of this molecular cross-sectional epidemiological study were to investigate relationships in a community sample between mean concentrations of IL-1beta and PGE(2) in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and (1) clinical periodontal signs and (2) risk factors of host inflammatory response and/or periodontal disease.
Material and methods: The sample comprised 6277 community-dwelling adults aged 52-74 years enrolled in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study. IL-1beta and PGE(2) concentrations were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Person-level summary variables were computed for maximum pocket depth (MaxPD), maximum clinical attachment level (MaxCAL) and presence/absence of bleeding on probing (BOP). Mean GCF IL-1beta and PGE(2) concentrations were dependent variables in multiple linear regression models with periodontal measures and covariates as explanatory variables.
Results: Both GCF IL-1beta and PGE(2) were positively related to MaxPD and BOP in multiple regression models (p<0.01). Increased levels of IL-1beta and PGE(2) were associated with body mass index >or=30 kg/m(2).
Conclusion: Higher levels of GCF IL-1beta and PGE(2) were significantly associated with clinical signs of periodontal disease and independently related to patient-based anthropomorphic measures, behaviours and exposures in community-dwelling adults.