Substance P and neurokinin A in gingival crevicular fluid in periodontal health and disease

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Abstract
The aims of the present study were to investigate whether the tachykin‐ins substance P and neurokinin A were present in gingival crevicular fluid in both periodontal health and disease and to study the relationship with periodontal inflammation. Gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) was collected from a healthy, a gingivitis and a periodontitis site in 20 subjects with periodontitis and from a healthy site in 20 subjects without periodontitis. The volume of GCF was measured and each sample subsequently analysed for substance P and neurokinin A by radioimmunoassay. There were significantly increased levels of substance P‐like immunoreactivity (SP–LI) and neurokinin A‐like immunoreactivity (NKA‐LI) in gingivitis and periodontitis sites compared with healthy sites. Both tachykinins were significantly elevated in periodontitis affected subjects, with significantly more tachykinin‐like immunoreactivity at healthy sites in periodontitis affected compared with periodontally‐bealthy subjects. Despite the considerable individual variation in the levels of SP‐LI and NKA‐Ll, both tachykinins were present at levels at which they could have biological activity. It is concluded that substance P and neurokinin A may have a role in the pathogenesis of periodontal disease and that further investigations could prove useful in clarifying the mechanisms through which neuropeptides could modulate periodontal health and disease.

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