BACTERIAL ENZYMES AND PERIODONTAL DISEASE

¹ Institute of Dental Research, United Dental Hospital, Sydney, Australia

1. Gingival debris was collected from 38 individuals with various degrees of gingival and periodontal disease.

2. Filtered and unfiltered material was tested for the presence of tissue-destroying enzymes: hyaluronidase, chondroitin sulfatase, gelatinase, and two collagenases, one able to attack hide powder and the other native collagen.

3. In the unfiltered material, hyaluronidase, chondroitin sulfatase, and gelatinase were always present. Hide-powder collagenase was present in most samples and native collagenase was present in the ratio of 0:2:3, respectively, in normal individuals, those with marginal gingivitis and those with periodontitis.

4. In the filtered material the enzymes were detected only infrequently.

5. Pure cultures of spirochetes and fusiforms showed only slight enzyme activity.

6. Salivary sediment contained all the enzymes, except 1 sample from which hide-powder collagenase was absent and 2 samples from which native collagenase was absent.

7. The significance of the presence of these enzymes in the gingival pocket and in the saliva is discussed.