Cytokine profile in gingival crevicular fluid and plasma of patients with aggressive periodontitis

<b>Objective:</b> This study aimed to determine the content of cytokines in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) as well as in plasma of Sudanese patients with aggressive periodontitis (AgP) and healthy controls (HC). <b>Materials and methods:</b> Nineteen AgP patients and 19 HC were included. The mean probing pocket depth and clinical attachment level of the GCF sampled sites in patients were both ≥5 mm. The GCF and plasma levels of 27 cytokines were determined using 27-multiplex fluorescent bead-based immunoassays. Ratios were calculated among cytokines of the T-helper cell subsets Th1 and Th2. Descriptive statistics, the Mann–Whitney U-test and Spearman’s <i>rho</i> rank correlation coefficient analysis were used. <b>Results:</b> Interferon-γ was the only cytokine found in significantly lower levels in GCF of patients compared with HC. Levels of interleukin (IL)-10, IL-13, IL-1Ra, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), regulated on activation normal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES), granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), and granulocyte-macrophage-CSF (GM-CSF) were significantly lower in plasma of AgP compared with HC. The ratios of Th1:Th2 in GCF and Treg:Th17 in plasma were significantly lower in AgP. <b>Conclusions:</b> The lower levels of cytokines detected systemically in plasma of AgP patients may have an impact on the immune response. The lower ratio of Th1:Th2 cytokines in GCF samples of AgP patients suggests a role for Th2 at the local site of disease.