Diagnostic Potential of aMMP-8 PoCT in Oral Fluids: Insights from Periodontitis and Metabolic Syndrome Interplay.

Abstract

This study evaluated the expression of active-matrix metalloproteinase-8 (aMMP-8) in saliva, oral rinse, and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of periodontitis patients with and without metabolic syndrome (MetS) and assessed correlations between aMMP-8 levels and both periodontal and metabolic parameters.One hundred and twenty participants aged 25 to 55 years were classified into three groups: MetS with periodontitis (MetS-PD, n = 40); systemically healthy with periodontitis (SH-PD, n = 40); and systemically and periodontally healthy controls (SH-PH, n = 40).The median age of the participants was 49.5 ± 8.94 in MetS-PD, 47.5 ± 5.6 in SH-PD, and 42.5 ± 11.14 in SH-PH. Systemic parameters (waist circumference, blood pressure, lipid profile, and glycemic indices) and periodontal parameters (bleeding on probing, plaque score, probing depth, and clinical attachment loss) were assessed. aMMP-8 was evaluated qualitatively using point-of-care testing (PoCT) and quantitatively via ELISA in oral rinse, saliva, and GCF.The PoCT was positive in 90% of MetS-PD and 85% of SH-PD participants, while all SH-PH participants tested negative (p < 0.01). MetS-PD exhibited significantly higher aMMP-8 levels in oral rinse and saliva than SH-PD (p = 0.001), whereas GCF aMMP-8 levels were higher in SH-PD but not substantially different from MetS-PD (p = 0.086). Strong positive correlations were observed between aMMP-8 levels in all oral matrices and periodontal parameters (p < 0.001). Among metabolic parameters, waist circumference, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, and fasting blood sugar showed stronger correlations with aMMP-8 levels than blood pressure measurements.The aMMP-8 PoCT effectively distinguished periodontally diseased individuals from healthy controls. Elevated aMMP-8 levels (>20 ng/mL) in oral fluids, especially saliva and oral rinse, were significantly associated with both periodontal and systemic risk factors, supporting the potential of aMMP-8 as a noninvasive biomarker for periodontitis and metabolic disorders.