Abstract
Gingival exudate and serum were collected from sixteen patients with extensive periodontitis. The depths of the periodontal pockets were measured on the upper canine and incisor teeth, while the amount of bone loss in the same region was measured on radiographs. Cathepsin and protease were measured at increasing pH in gingival fluid, in serum and in an extract of bacteria grown from gingival fluid. Cathepsin was much higher in gingival fluid than in serum and showed a peak of optimum activity at pH 3.5 (cathepsin D). It was absent from the bacterial extract. A positive, statistically significant correlation was found between the concentrations of cathepsin D in gingival exudate and the depths of the periodontal pockets, as well as the mean percentage of bone loss. The results further substantiate a possible role of lysosomal enzymes in the pathogenesis of periodontitis.
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