Detection Of Ferric Ion, Hepcidin, OPG And RANKL Levels In The Gingival Crevicular Fluid Of Patients With Chronic Periodontitis

Objective:To analyse the effects on alveolar bone loss of periodontitis by detecting the levels of Ferric ion, hepcidin, osteoprotegerin (OPG) and receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) in the gingival crevicular fluid(GCF) of patients with chronic periodontitis.Methods:40subjects were included for this study, according to periodontal status,20subjects who had chronic periodontitis were selected as the experimental group, and20subjects who had the similar age, sexuality and no periodontal disease as the control group.20teeth were examined in each group. Recorded the clinical parameters:probing depth(PD), attachment loss(AL), plaque index(PLI), sulcus bleeding index(SBI) of every selected tooth through clinical examination and X-ray.40GCF samples were collected by absorbent paper points. The levels of hepcidin, OPG and RANKL in GCF were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The Ferric ion level in GCF was measured by Spectrophotoments.All data analyses were performed using the SPSS19.0software and p<0.05was considered as significant. Results:1. All the subjects in the experimental group had different degrees of AL with alveolar bone loss according to the X-ray, yet the control group had not.2. The concentration of Ferric ion and hepcidin in GCF of the experimental group was34.47±17.88μmol/l and18.51±8.38ng/ml respectively, which were both significantly higher than that of the control group (18.71±10.35μmol/l and12.28±5.50ng/ml)(P<0.05).3. The levels of RANKL and RANKL/OPG in GCF of the experimental group were54.53±14.43pg/μl and1.49±1.06, which were both significantly higher than that of control group (27.20±11.47pg/μl and0.32±0.26)(P<0.01), but the level of OPG in GCF of the experimental group (49.86±24.98pg/μl) was significantly lower than that of the control group (110.08±47.37pg/μl)(P<0.01).4.The concentration of RANKL, OPG and RANKL/OPG in GCF of the experimental group was not significantly associated with the clinical parameters of PD, AL, PLI and SBI.5. Positive relationship was found between Ferric ion level and the concentration of hepcidin and RANKL in GCF of the experimental group, the correlation coefficients were0.586(P=0.007),0.403(P=0.04). The concentration of Ferric ion in GCF of the experimental group was not significantly associated with OPG. Conclusion:1. The high level of Ferric ion in GCF in the patients with chronic periodontitis suggested a potential relationship between iron overload and alveolar bone loss.2. The high level of RANKL and the low level of OPG in GCF in the patients with periodontitis suggested a relationship between alveolar bone loss and the imbalance of RANKL and OPG.3. The positive relationship between the level of Ferric ion and RANKL in GCF suggested the alveolar bone remodeling was influenced by Ferric ion through the OPG/RANKL/RANK pathway.