Abstract Background This study aimed to examine the levels of galectin‐7, galectin‐10, and matrix metalloproteinase‐9 (MMP‐9) in saliva across different periodontal health and disease conditions as well as comparing these biomarkers' discriminative efficiencies in periodontal disease. Methods A total of 60 systemically healthy nonsmoker participants were enrolled in a cross‐sectional study and divided into healthy (group Hp, n = 20), gingivitis (group G, n = 20), and periodontitis (group P, n = 20) groups based on their periodontal examination results. Whole‐mouth clinical periodontal measurements were recorded. Galectin‐7, galectin‐10, and MMP‐9 levels in the saliva were determined by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results The group P had significantly higher saliva galectin‐7 levels than group G and group Hp ( p < 0.05). Periodontal disease groups had higher saliva galectin‐10 levels than the group Hp ( p < 0.05). Group P had the highest MMP‐9 saliva levels compared with the other groups ( p < 0.05). The MMP‐9 levels in group G were also higher than those in the group Hp ( p < 0.05). According to the ROC analysis results, salivary galectin‐7 (AUC = 0.719) and galectin‐10 (AUC = 0.765) had a similar impact on the diagnosis of periodontal disease, while salivary MMP‐9 levels (AUC = 0.899) were found to be more effective in distinguishing periodontal disease compared with other biomarkers. Conclusions The study's findings suggest that galectin‐7 and galectin‐10 may be helpful and equally efficient biomarkers in the diagnosis of periodontal disease. Compared to these two galectins, MMP‐9 was proven to be a more effective biomarker. Plain language summary Periodontal disease refers to a group of inflammatory conditions affecting gums and supporting tissues (the bone surrounding the tooth root and the ligaments connecting the tooth to this bone). This disease is divided into two main classes. These are gingivitis (reversible form, characterized by inflammation of the gum without loss of supporting tissues) and periodontitis (advanced, irreversible stage marked by destruction of supporting tissues, leading to potential tooth loss if untreated). The purpose of this study was to investigate the levels of MMP‐9 (an enzyme that plays a major role in tissue remodeling and inflammation, particularly by breaking down collagen and gelatin), galectin‐7 (a protein involved in a variety of biological processes such as immune response and wound healing), and galectin‐10 (a protein having roles in the immune system) in saliva in relation to periodontal health and disease. Subjects with periodontitis had higher levels of all biomolecules and subjects with gingivitis had higher levels of galectin‐10 and MMP‐9 compared with individuals with healthy gums, suggesting that these biomolecules could be involved in the inflammation processes of periodontal disease.
Köksal et al. (Mon,) studied this question.