CATHEPSIN D LEVEL IN THE HUMAN GINGIVAL TISSUES AND SERUM OF PERIODONTITIS SUBJECTS

This study investigates the level of cathepsin D activity in the serum and gingival tissues of periodontitis subjects and healthy individuals. The cathepsin D activity (spectrophotometric assay) was measured in the gingival tissues and serum of control healthy individuals (group I) and periodontitis subjects (group II). Inflamed gingival tissue was obtained from 15 periodontitis patients (9 males and 6 females) and15 control individuals (8 males and 7 females) aged 32-52 yrs with healthy gingival who were undergoing other forms of oral surgery. Serum was obtained by centrifuging the blood at 1500 r.p.m for 10 minutes. The enzyme unit was expressed by micromoles of tyrosine liberated per minute / 1000 ml in serum and micromoles of tyrosine liberated per minute / mg in gingival tissues. Cathepsin D activity in the serum and gingival tissue was higher in periodontitis group than that of the control healthy group (p < 0.05). We found that serum cathepsin D in the serum of group II subjects was elevated 8 times and in the gingival tissues, its level is nearly 7 times higher when compared to group I subjects. There were correlations between periodontal parameters, and cathepsin D activity.  The results suggest that cathepsin D activity increases in patients with periodontitis. The higher cathepsin D activity in the gingival and serum of periodontitis may be attributed to an adaptive mechanism in the tissue which increases oxidative stress and would be helpful for monitoring the periodontal condition.