Association of salivary levels of
the bone remodelling regulators
sRANKL and OPG with
periodontal clinical status
Tobo ´n-Arroyave S. I., Isaza-Guzma ´n D. M., Restrepo-Cadavid E. M., Zapata-
Molina S. M., Martı´nez-Pabo ´n M. C. Association of salivary levels of the bone
remodelling regulators sRANKL and OPG with periodontal clinical status. J Clin
Periodontol 2012; 39: 1132–1140. doi: 10.1111/jcpe.12012.
Abstract
Aim: To determine the variations in salivary concentrations of sRANKL, osteo-
protegerin (OPG) and its ratio, regarding the periodontal status.
Materials and Methods: Ninety-seven chronic periodontitis (CP) subjects and 43
healthy controls were selected. Periodontal status was assessed based on full-
mouth clinical periodontal measurements. sRANKL and OPG salivary levels
were analysed by ELISA. The association between these analytes and its ratio
with CP was analysed individually and adjusted for confounding using a binary
logistic regression model.
Results: sRANKL and sRANKL/OPG ratio were increased, whereas OPG was
decreased in CP compared with healthy controls subjects. Although univariate
analysis revealed a positive association of sRANKL salivary levels 6 pg/ml,
OPG salivary levels 131 pg/ml and sRANKL/OPG ratio 0.062 with CP,
after logistic regression analysis only the latter parameter was strongly and inde-
pendently associated with disease status. Confounding and interaction effects of
ageing and smoking habit on sRANKL and OPG levels could be noted.
Conclusion: Although salivary concentrations of sRANKL, OPG and its ratio
may act as indicators of the amount/extent of periodontal breakdown, the
mutual confounding and synergistic biological interactive effects related to
ageing and smoking habit of the susceptible host may also promote the tissue
destruction in CP.
Sergio I. Tobo ´ n-Arroyave, Diana M.
Isaza-Guzma ´ n, Eliana M. Restrepo-
Cadavid, Sandra M. Zapata-Molina
and Marı ´a C. Martı ´nez-Pabo ´n
POPCAD Research Group, Laboratory of
Immunodetection and Bioanalysis, Faculty of
Dentistry, University of Antioquia, Medellı ´n,
Colombia
Key words: Ageing; bone remodelling
regulators; chronic periodontitis; diagnostics;
osteoprotegerin; periodontal health status;
saliva; smoking habit; soluble receptor
activator of NF-jB ligand; sRANKL/OPG ratio
Accepted for publication 25 August 2012
Chronic periodontitis (CP) is an
inflammatory disease that results
from a complex polymicrobial infec-
tion, leading to tooth-supporting tis-
sues destruction as a consequence of
the perturbation of the homeostasis
between the subgingival microbiota
and the host defences in susceptible
individuals (Sanz & van Winkelhoff
2011). Notwithstanding, although
alveolar bone loss is one of the most
important hallmarks of periodontal
breakdown (Taubman et al. 2005,
Cochran 2008), the mechanisms that
underlie bone resorption in CP are
not fully understood.
In addition to its physiological
function, increasing evidence has
shown a pivotal role of both the
receptor activator of nuclear factor
Conflict of interest and source of
funding statement
The authors declare that they have no
conflict of interest. This study has
been fully supported by a grant of the
Research Development Committee of
the University of Antioquia (CODI-
Code 8700-677).
© 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S 1132
J Clin Periodontol 2012; 39: 1132–1140 doi: 10.1111/jcpe.12012