Evaluation of chemokines in gingival crevicular fluid in children with band and loop space maintainers: A clinico-biochemical study

1 Background: Chemokines are pro-inflammatory cells that can be induced during an immune response to recruit cells of the immune system to a site of infection. Aim: This study was conducted to detect the presence of chemokines, macrophage inflammatory protein-1 alpha (MIP-1 alpha), and 1 beta (MIP-1 beta) and estimate their levels in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) in children with band and loop space maintainers. Materials and Methods: MIP-1 alpha and MIP-1 beta levels were estimated in GCF samples from twenty healthy children and twenty children with band and loop space maintainers. Periodontal status was evaluated by measuring gingival index, plaque index, and Russell's periodontal index. The GCF samples were quantified by ELISA, and the levels of MIP-1 alpha and MIP-1 beta were determined. Results: The mean MIP-1 alpha concentrations in healthy children and those with space maintainers were 395.75 pg/mu l and 857.85 pg/mu l, respectively, and MIP-1 beta was 342.55 pg/mu l and 685.25 pg/mu l, respectively. MIP-1 alpha and MIP-1 beta levels in GCF from children with space maintainers were significantly higher than in the healthy group, and statistically significant difference existed between these two groups. Conclusion: MIP-1 alpha and MIP-1 beta can be considered as novel biomarkers in the biological mechanism underlying the pathogenesis of gingival inflammation in children with space maintainers.