TNF-α and IL-4 levels in generalized aggressive periodontitis subjects

The aim of this study was to evaluate tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin (IL)-4 levels in healthy sites and sites exhibiting signs of moderate and advanced generalized aggressive periodontitis (GAgP) in the same subject. The following sites were selected for crevicular fluid sampling in the same AgP subject (n = 14): Healthy sites (HS): no marginal bleeding or bleeding on probing (BOP) and probing depth (PD) <= 3 mm; Moderate sites (MS): BOP and PD between 4 and 6 mm; Advanced sites (AS): BOP and PD >= 7 mm. One site from periodontally healthy subjects (n = 13) was sampled for use as a control. TNF-alpha and IL-4 levels were measured using ELISA. The total amount of TNF-alpha was lower for control sites, while there were no differences among healthy and diseased sites from GAgP subjects (P < 0.05). The concentration of TNF-alpha was higher in HS, in relation to the other sites (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences among the groups regarding total amounts of IL-4 (P > 0.05), while IL-4 concentration was significantly higher in control sites, when compared with sites from GAgP subjects (P < 0.05). In conclusion, high levels of TNF-alpha and low levels of IL-4 were observed in both healthy and diseased sites within the same generalized AgP individuals.