The effects of periodontal therapy on gingival crevicular fluid NLRP3, IL-1β and caspase-1 levels in children with gingivitis

Aim: The aim of this study is to determine the levels of NLRP3 (NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing protein 3), IL-1β (interleukin-1β) and caspase-1 (cysteine-aspartic acid protease) in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of children with gingivitis, to compare these biomarkers with those of healthy children, and to analyse the changes in their levels following non-surgical periodontal therapy. Materials and Methods: A total of 60 children aged 11-14 years were included in the study, including 30 children with gingivitis and 30 periodontally healthy controls. The clinical parameters recorded for each participant were plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), probing pocket depth (PPD) and bleeding on probing index (BOP). Periodontal treatment was administered to the gingivitis group during the initial session, and oral hygiene education was provided to both groups at the first visit. In the gingivitis group, clinical parameters were reevaluated and GCF (Gingival Crevicular Fluid) samples were recollected on the 7th and 30th days following treatment. The healthy individuals were not re-evaluated for follow-up purposes. Biomarker levels in GCF were analysed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Data analysis was performed using SPSS. Results: At baseline, PI, GI, PPD and BOP parameters were found to be significantly higher in the gingivitis group compared to the healthy group (p<0.05). However, no significant differences in GCF NLRP3, IL-1β and caspase-1 levels were observed between the gingivitis and healthy groups at any time point (p>0.05). In the gingivitis group, a statistically significant reduction in PI, GI and BOP levels was observed on days 7 and 30 following periodontal treatment compared to baseline. However, no significant changes were observed in GCF, NLRP3, IL-1β and caspase-1 levels at days 7 and 30 post-treatment compared to baseline (p>0.05). In addition, a positive correlation between PI, GI and BOP levels and NLRP3 and caspase-1 levels was observed in the gingivitis group at baseline (p<0.05). Conclusions: The levels of DOS NLRP3, IL-1β and caspase-1 in children with gingivitis were not found to be effective in diagnosing periodontal disease. Consistent with this finding, nonsurgical periodontal treatment did not change the levels of DOS NLRP3, IL-1β and caspase-1 in children with gingivitis. Keywords: Caspase-1, Gingivitis, IL-1b, NLRP3