No abstract

Aim To evaluate the sequential and differential expression of a variety of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) during the development of an experimentally induced gingivitis in humans. Material and methods In twenty healthy volunteers, gingival inflammation was induced by abstention from oral hygiene at 6 teeth. Bleeding on probing (BOP) and plaque index (PI) were assessed, and gingival biopsies and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) were collected at 8 different time points (t0‐t35). Gingival epithelial cells (GECs) were stimulated with various receptor agonists. In biopsies and GECs, mRNA expression of human beta‐defensins (hBD‐2, hBD‐3), CC‐chemokine ligand 20 (CCL20), S100A7/psoriasin (S100A7), and calgranulin A/B (S100A8, S100A9) was evaluated using real‐time PCR, and protein profiles were measured by ELISA. Statistical analysis was performed using non‐parametric tests. Results The clinical parameters BOP, PI and GCF increased over time (p < 0.0001). Tissue AMP mRNA expression was elevated, but at different and AMP‐specific time points (p < 0.05). Protein analysis revealed a similar expression pattern for hBD‐2 and CCL20 in GCF (p < 0.05). In GECs, multiple receptor stimulation was required to induce AMP gene expression (p < 0.0001). Conclusions For the first time, this study showed the sequential and differential expression of AMPs during a developing inflammation in vivo providing further evidence for their role as guardians of a healthy periodontium.