Salivary level of Interleukins 6 and 8 in people with geographic tongue referred to the department of oral medicine, faculty of dentistry, Tabriz university of medical sciences, Tabriz, Iran, in 2023

Abstract

Background. Cytokines play an important role in regulating the host response to infection and tissue damage. The aim of this research was to compare the salivary levels of interleukin 6 and 8 in people with geographic tongue and healthy people. Methods. In this case-control study, 34 people with geographic tongue and 34 healthy people participated. Non-stimulated saliva samples were collected from both groups. Subjects spit their saliva into Falcon tubes every 60 seconds for 6 minutes. After completing the sampling, the amount of interleukin 6 and 8 was measured using the ELISA technique. Data analysis was done using independent t-test in SPSS version 24. A P-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results. The mean level of interleukin 8 was significantly higher in patients with geographic tongue (87.53±7.38 pg/mL) than in healthy subjects (53.53±6.04 pg/mL) (P<0.05). The mean level of interleukin 6 was significantly higher in patients with geographic tongue (519.11±49.92 pg/mL) than in healthy subjects (459.65±46.11 pg/mL) (P<0.05). In both control and patient groups, the level of interleukin 6 and 8 in women was significantly higher than in men (P<0.05). Conclusion. The mean levels of interleukin 8 and interleukin 6 in patients with geographic tongue were significantly higher compared to healthy subjects. Practical Implications. By determining the level of interleukins 8 and 6 in geographic tongue patients, their selective antagonists may induce therapeutic effects.