Gingival crevicular fluid lipocalin-2 and semaphorin3A in stage III periodontitis: Non-surgical periodontal treatment effects

Background and Objective Identification of biomarkers to assess individual risk and monitor periodontal health status is important. Research on lipocalin-2 (LCN2) and semaphorin3A (Sema3A) is lacking. This study aimed to evaluate gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) LCN2, Sema3A, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) levels in periodontally healthy (H), gingivitis (G), and periodontitis (P) patients, and their changes following non-surgical periodontal therapy. Methods Sixty systemically healthy and non-smoker participants, diagnosed as periodontally healthy, gingivitis, and stage III grade C periodontitis, were recruited (n = 20/group). Clinical periodontal parameters were recorded and GCF samples were obtained at baseline from all groups; for group P, these were repeated one and three months following non-surgical periodontal treatment. GCF LCN2, Sema3A, and TNF-alpha levels were evaluated with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results GCF LCN2, Sema3A, and TNF-alpha total amounts were significantly higher in disease groups than group H (p < .001). Between P and G groups, only TNF-alpha levels were significantly different (p < .001). Non-surgical periodontal therapy resulted in significant improvement of all clinical parameters and significant decreases of GCF LCN2 and TNF-alpha levels, at both time points, compared with baseline (p < .001). Sema3A levels remained unchanged following treatment (p > .05). LCN2 and TNF-alpha levels were significantly positively correlated with clinical parameters. LCN2 (AUC [area under the curve] = 0.94) and TNF-alpha (AUC = 0.98) levels were similarly accurate in differentiating between periodontal disease (whether G or P) and healthy controls. Conclusions LCN2 and TNF-alpha levels in GCF are correlated with clinical parameters and could prove useful as non-invasive screening tools for periodontitis.