Skip to content

Comparison of Saliva Biomarkers in Two Different Geographical Regions of Turkey

Comparison of Salivary RANKL, OPG, IL-10, IL-1β and Cortisol Levels With Non-surgical Periodontal Treatment in Periodontitis Patients Living in Two Different Geographical Regions in Turkey

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT06809439
Enrollment
77
Registered
2025-02-05
Start date
2023-01-02
Completion date
2023-07-03
Last updated
2025-02-05

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Saliva, Cortisol, Smoking, Tobacco, Periodontal Bone Loss, Periodontal Disease, Periodontal Therapy

Keywords

RANKL, osteoprotegerin, interleukin-10, non-surgical periodontal therapy, periodontitis, saliva, enviromental, geographical locations

Brief summary

Periodontitis is a multifactorial, chronic inflammatory disease caused by many factors such as pathogenic microorganisms, host response, environmental and systemic factors. Immune mechanisms triggered by host-bacteria interaction can initiate tissue destruction by leading to the release of large amounts of inflammatory mediators such as IL-1β. It is thought that IL-10 has a regulatory role by limiting the initiation and progression of the acute inflammatory response with its anti-inflammatory effect. The high detection of RANKL and RANKL/OPG ratios in periodontitis indicates that these markers play a role in bone destruction. Elucidating the connections between the immune system and bone-related cytokines will contribute significantly to the resolution of these complex mechanisms underlying periodontal diseases. Risk factors for periodontal diseases include gender, age, smoking and some hereditary factors. Cortisol is an important marker of psychological stress. It is emphasized that stress and depression reduce immune system function and cause chronic inflammation. Thus, it indirectly provokes periodontal tissue destruction.

Detailed description

This study consists of patients and healthy volunteers. Saliva will be collected only once from healthy volunteers; from patients at the beginning and after non-surgical periodontal treatments are performed by the researchers. In the collected saliva; clinical parameters and salivary RANKL, OPG, IL-10, IL-1β, cortisol levels will be determined in periodontitis and periodontally healthy individuals living in two different geographical regions in Turkey (Ankara -Erzurum); it will be determined whether non-surgical periodontal treatment has an effect on cytokines determined in saliva and clinical status at the end of 1-month follow-up period; periodontal pathogenesis and host response will be evaluated in smoker and non-smoker groups. Analyses will be performed by ELISA method. The study is based on the hypothesis that different regional and geographical conditions determining climate, culture, environment, life, stress situations affect the course of periodontitis disease and host response. A regional comparison will be made between markers that affect the course of periodontitis disease and play a role in its pathogenesis in patients with different climate, living and cultural conditions, according to location.

Interventions

DIAGNOSTIC_TESTSaliva Collection (Baseline)

Unstimulated saliva samples were collected from all participants between 9:00 and 11:00 am. Clinical periodontal measurements were performed after saliva collection to prevent contamination (bleeding, etc.). Participants refrained from brushing their teeth the morning before sampling and from eating, drinking, or smoking for at least 2 hours before sampling. Patients were asked to rinse their mouths with distilled water 5 minutes before saliva collection. A saliva sample was then collected by spitting directly into a sterile tube. Sample collection was continued for 5 minutes.

Oral hygiene instructions including tooth brushing, flossing, and interdental brushing were given to all patient groups before non-surgical periodontal treatment. In both periodontitis groups, scaling, and root surface smoothing were performed using ultrasonic instruments (Woodpecker Medicals Ins. Co., USA) and Gracey Curettes (Hu-Friedy, Chicago, IL, USA) under local anesthesia once a week for 4 weeks.

OTHERProbing

Clinical and radiographic evaluations were performed by trained and calibrated examiners at Ankara University (SY) and Ataturk University (OT). Clinical parameters of probing depth (PPD), clinical attachment level CAL, plaque index PI, and bleeding on probing (BOP) were recorded from six tooth regions (mesio-buccal, mid-buccal, disto-buccal, mesio-lingual, middle lingual, and disto-lingual) using periodontal probe. Bone loss was assessed using panoramic radiographs, confirming the diagnosis of periodontitis.

DIAGNOSTIC_TESTSaliva Collection (After treatment)

Unstimulated saliva samples were collected from all participants between 9:00 and 11:00 am. Clinical periodontal measurements were performed after saliva collection to prevent contamination (bleeding, etc.). Participants refrained from brushing their teeth the morning before sampling and from eating, drinking, or smoking for at least 2 hours before sampling. Patients were asked to rinse their mouths with distilled water 5 minutes before saliva collection. A saliva sample was then collected by spitting directly into a sterile tube. Sample collection was continued for 5 minutes.

Sponsors

Ataturk University
CollaboratorOTHER
Ankara University
CollaboratorOTHER
Karabuk University
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE

Intervention model description

A total of 77 subjects in Ankara and Erzurum, 19 non-smokers (NS-P) with stage III, grade B generalized periodontitis and 14 smokers (SP) with stage III, grade C generalized periodontitis, as well as 22 non-smokers (NS-C) and 22 smokers (SC) periodontally healthy control cases were included in the study.Periodontal parameters were recorded, and unstimulated saliva samples were collected from all patients. Periodontitis patients (N=33) were evaluated clinically and biochemically (saliva IL-1β, cortisol, RANKL, OPG, and IL-10) 4 weeks after complete oral cleansing and root correction (SRP). Saliva samples were analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The data were analyzed using the SPSS software version 22.0.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
35 Years to 60 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* 35-60 years of age * good cooperation * a minimum of 20 permanent teeth, excluding third molars

Exclusion criteria

* systemic diseases * taking any medications * received antibiotic treatment in the last three months * those who had undergone periodontal treatment six months ago * pregnant or breastfeeding patients * prosthetic restorations * undergoing orthodontic treatment

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Study population, pre-treatment and post-treatment periodontal clinical parametersup to 4 weeksThis study included 10 systemically healthy non-smokers from Ankara with stage III, grade B generalized periodontitis, 8 smokers with stage III, grade C generalized periodontitis, 11 periodontally healthy non-smokers, and 11 periodontally healthy smokers. In Erzurum, systemically healthy, 9 non-smokers, stage III B generalized periodontitis , 6 smokers (≥10/day), stage III C generalized periodontitis, 11 periodontally healthy non-smokers, and 11 periodontally healthy smokers were included. Clinical parameters of probing depth (PPD), clinical attachment level (CAL), plaque index (PI), and bleeding on probing (BOP) were recorded . All clinical measurements were made after saliva samples were taken and recorded as initial values. The periodontal index form was used for this purpose. (https://www.periodontalchart-online.com/uk/) Nonsurgical periodontal treatments lasted 4 weeks. Baseline and post-treatment periodontal parameters were compared.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Salivary biomarkersup to 2 monthsSaliva IL-1β (pg/ml), cortisol (ng/ml), RANKL (pg/ml), OPG(ng/ml), and IL-10 (pg/ml) concentrations were assessed via ELISA. The baseline saliva of the control groups and the pre- and post-treatment salivary biochemical parameters of the treatment groups were similar in both cities evaluated.

Other

MeasureTime frameDescription
Determination of the Presence and Accumulation Level of Dental Plaqueup to 4 weeksPlaque accumulation around the tooth will be recorded using the Plaque Index (PI) developed by Silness and Löe. Accordingly; 0. No plaque, 1. Presence of plaque in the form of a film attached to the free gingival margin and adjacent tooth surface and detectable with the help of a periodontal probe, 2. Presence of soft attachment visible to the naked eye at the gingival margin and on the tooth surface, 3. Presence of extremely soft attachment at the gingival margin and on the tooth surface. The PI value of each measured tooth will be obtained by averaging the scores recorded from 4 regions (mid-mesial, mid-buccal, mid-distal, mid-lingual/palatal) for a tooth. The PI value for each patient will be calculated as follows: PI= Total PI in all teeth / Total number of teeth
Determination of Gingival Bleeding on Probingup to 4 weeksThe Probing Bleeding Index (BPI) developed by Ainamo and Bay will be used to evaluate gingival bleeding on probing. According to this index; Positive (+) indicates the presence of bleeding on probing, negative (-) indicates the absence of bleeding on probing. After applying pressure by the weight of the probe within the pocket using the BPI ; periodontal probe, each tooth will be evaluated for 4 regions (mid-mesial, mid-buccal, mid-distal, mid-lingual/palatal) and will be determined as positive (+) or negative (-) and recorded as a percentage. The percentage of bleeding on probing for each patient will be calculated as follows; BOP (bleeding on probing) percentage = number of teeth with bleeding on probing x100 / total number of teeth
RANKL Measurementup to 2 monthsRANKL concentrations of saliva samples were measured using a commercial ELISA kit (Catalog No: RE3181H, Reed Biotech, Wuhan, China) following the manufacturer's instructions. The measurement range of the kit was 15.63 pg/mL-1000 pg/mL, sensitivity was 9.38 pg/mL, and inter-assay and intra-assay CV (coefficient of variation) values were \<10%. Standard solutions in the range of 15.63 pg/mL-1000 pg/mL were prepared, and the results were calculated using a curve graph. The results were given in pg/mL.
Determination of Pocket Depth (PD)up to 4 weeksWilliams periodontal probe was used to determine pocket depth. Care was taken to use the probe parallel to the long axis of the tooth with its own weight during the measurements. PD was measured from 6 regions (mesio-buccal, mid-buccal, disto-buccal, mesio-lingual/palatal, mid-lingual/palatal, disto-lingual/palatal) for each tooth and recorded in millimeters (mm). The PD value for each tooth was obtained by taking the average of the 6 measured values.
IL-10 Measurementup to 2 monthsIL-10 concentrations of saliva samples were measured using a commercial ELISA kit (Catalog No: RE3187H, Reed Biotech, Wuhan, China) following the manufacturer's instructions. The measurement range of the kit was 1.57 pg/mL-100 pg/mL, sensitivity was 0.94 pg/mL, and inter-assay and intra-assay CV (coefficient of variation) values were \<10%. Standard solutions were prepared in the range of 1.57 pg/mL-100 pg/mL, and the results were calculated using a curve graph. The results were given in pg/mL.
IL-1β Analysisup to 2 monthsIL-1β concentrations of saliva samples were measured using a commercial ELISA kit (Catalog No: RE1074H, Reed Biotech, Wuhan, China) and following the manufacturer's instructions. The measurement range of the kit was 7.82 pg/mL-500 pg/mL, sensitivity was 4.69 pg/mL, and inter-assay and intra-assay CV (coefficient of variation) values were \<10%. Standard solutions in the range of 7.82 pg/mL-500 pg/mL were prepared, and the results were calculated using a curve graph. The results were given in pg/mL.
Cortisol Analysisup to 2 monthsCortisol concentrations of saliva samples were measured using a commercial ELISA kit (Catalog No: RE10109, Reed Biotech, Wuhan, China) and following the manufacturer's instructions. The measuring range of the kit was 0.31 ng/mL-20 ng/mL, sensitivity was 0.9 ng/mL, and inter-assay and intra-assay CV (coefficient of variation) values were \<10%. Standard solutions in the range of 0.31 ng/mL-20 ng/mL were prepared, and the results were calculated using a curve graph. The results were given in ng/mL.
OPG Measurementup to 2 monthsOPG concentrations of saliva samples were measured using a commercial ELISA kit (Catalog No: RE1765H, Reed Biotech, Wuhan, China) following the manufacturer's instructions. The measuring range of the kit was 0.16 ng/mL-10 ng/mL, sensitivity was 0.1 ng/mL, and inter-assay and intra-assay CV (coefficient of variation) values were \<10%. Standard solutions were prepared in the range of 0.16 ng/mL-10 ng/mL, and the results were calculated using a curve graph. The results were given in ng/mL.
Determination of Clinical Attachment Level (CAL)up to 4 weeksIn order to determine CAL, the cementoenamel border will be determined as a reference point and the distance between the reference point and the pocket base will be measured with a periodontal probe and recorded in mm. CAL will be recorded from 6 regions (mesio-buccal, mid-buccal, disto-buccal, mesio-lingual/palatal, mid-lingual/palatal, disto-lingual/palatal) for each tooth. The CAL value for each tooth will be obtained by averaging the 6 measured values.

Countries

Turkey (Türkiye)

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026