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The plasminogen activating system plays an important role in tissue proteolysis in physiological as well as pathological processes. Earlier studies have shown high concentrations of the plasminogen activator t-PA as well as its inhibitor PAI-2 in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF). In addition, gingival inflammatory reactions have been related to increases in t-PA and PAI-2. In order to explore the potential role of the plasminogen activating system for the development of destructive periodontal disease, the aim of this study was to assess the balance of the activator t-PA to the inhibitor PAI-2 in GCF from patients, clinically defined to represent different periodontal conditions. The Progression Group consisted of 12 periodontitis patients with 1 or more sites having shown an increased pocket depth of »= 3 mm during the last 2 years of maintenance care and with »= 8 unchanged or improving sites during the period. The Non Progression Group consisted of patients who had shown a decreased or unchanged pocket depth of all sites during the last 3 years of maintenance care. Sampling of GCF was done with small disks of Millipore-filter, and t-PA and PAI-2 were analyzed with ELISAs. There was no difference in the t-PA/PAI-2 ratio between the two groups. However, an intra-individual comparison within the Progression Group showed a higher ratio at the deteriorating sites than at the stable sites. Even though no difference was found between the groups, the higher t-PAfPAI-2 ratio at the deteriorating sites in the Progression Group suggests an involvement of the plasminogen activating system in the proteolytic events leading to breakdown of the tooth supporting tissues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High concentrations of tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) and placental type plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-2) have previously been found in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of adults and children. In the present study, intra-individual comparisons were made of the concentrations of t-PA, urokinase type plasminogen activator (u-PA), PAI-1, and PAI-2 in GCF from the same sites before and after periodontal treatment in eight healthy male volunteers aged 35-46 yr. The gingival state was assessed by exudate measurement, bleeding on standardized probing, and the gingival index of Löe & Silness 3 days before the start of the trial and on the day after completing a 21-day preventive program consisting of instruction and professional cleaning once a week. Eight sites per subject were selected for enzyme analyses, all showing improvement in gingival state during the period. Sampling of GCF at the start and at the end of the trial was done with small disks of Millipore-filter. t-PA and PAI-2 were analyzed with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays with low method errors. The mean concentrations of t-PA were 0.73 mg/l before treatment and 0.49 mg/1 after treatment. The mean concentrations of u-PA were 84.4 μ/1 before treatment and 101.6 μg/1 after treatment. PAI-1 was found in three subjects at the detection level. The mean PAI-2 concentrations were 2.19 mg/1 before and 1.13 mg/1 after treatment. The mean molar ratio PAs/PAI-2 was 0.47 before and 0.48 after treatment. This insignificant change implies a maintained proteolytic balance and indicates that PAI-2 is an important inhibitor of tissue proteolysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High concentrations of tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) and placental type plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-2) have previously been found in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of adults. In the present study, the levels were examined in 16 children aged 8-9 yr. Sampling of GCF was performed with small disks of Millipore-filter. t-PA and PAI-2 were analyzed with enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assays with low method errors The mean concentration of t-PA was slightly higher than in adults, while the mean PAI-2-concentration was slightly lower An intraindividual study comparing healthy and inflamed sites in the children showed slightly higher concentrations in GCF from inflamed sites. No change was observed in the balance between t-PA and PAI-2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]