# Evaluation of Salusin-α and Salusin-β Levels in Human Saliva Samples from Patients with Gingivitis and Periodontitis: A Cross-Sectional Study

## TL;DR

This study found that salusin-α and salusin-β levels in saliva are higher in periodontitis patients compared to healthy individuals, suggesting they could be useful biomarkers for the disease.

## Contribution

The study is the first to evaluate salusin-α and salusin-β in saliva as potential biomarkers for periodontitis.

## Key findings

- Salivary salusin-α and salusin-β levels were significantly higher in periodontitis compared to healthy controls.
- The increase in salusin levels was greater in periodontitis than in gingivitis.
- Salusin levels may serve as potential biomarkers for periodontal disease severity.

## Abstract

Background: Gingivitis and periodontitis are progressive inflammatory diseases affecting the tissues surrounding the teeth; gingivitis involves reversible gingival inflammation, whereas periodontitis is a more advanced condition characterized by irreversible tissue destruction, including clinical attachment and alveolar bone loss. Salusin-α and salusin-β are inflammation-related polypeptides that may reflect periodontal inflammatory burden; however, salivary data in periodontal diseases are lacking. This study aimed to evaluate the salivary salusin-α and salusin-β levels in individuals with gingivitis and periodontitis. Methods: Saliva samples were collected from a total of 80 systemically healthy non-smoker individuals classified into three groups: gingivitis (n = 27), stage III grade B periodontitis (n = 27), and healthy participant (n = 26) based on the 2017 Periodontal Classification criteria. Salusin-α and salusin-β levels in saliva were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Statistical analysis utilized one-way ANOVA, Student’s t-test, and Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results: Compared to the healthy group, salivary levels of salusin-α and salusin-β were found to be significantly elevated in periodontitis groups (p < 0.05), not gingivitis (p > 0.05); moreover, the increase in both markers was significantly greater in the periodontitis group than in the gingivitis group (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Our finding suggests that salusins play a role in the inflammatory processes of periodontal diseases. The increase in salusin-α and salusin-β levels in the periodontitis suggests that these parameters may serve as biomarkers.