OBJECTIVEThis study detects the expression of secreted frizzled-related protein 1 (SFRP1) in healthy patients and patients with chronic periodontitis (CP) and explores the relationship between SFRP1 and the occurrence and development of CP.

METHODSFirst, 28 patients forming the CP group were further divided into mild, moderate, and severe CP subgroups according to clinical attachment loss (CAL) data. Ten healthy volunteers were recruited in the control group. Gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) was collected from all of the patients, and the concentration of SFRP1 in the GCF samples was detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Next, gingival lesions were obtained from 22 patients in the CP group and healthy gingival tissues were obtained from the 10 healthy patients in the control group. Immunohistochemical analysis for SFRP1 was used to analyze the correlation between the expression of SFRP1 and the severity of CP based on staining intensities.

RESULTSThe concentration of SFRP1 in GCF samples taken from of the CP group (281.07 ng x L(-1) +/- 33.37 ng x L(-1)) was significantly higher than that in samples taken from the control group (245.30 ng x L(-1) +/- 35.69 ng x L(-1)) (P < 0.05). A significant positive correlation was observed between the concentration of SFRP1 in GCF and CAL (r = 0.651, P < 0.001). Furthermore, the SFRP1 scores in the CP groups (4.500 +/- 0.913) were significantly higher than those in the control group (2.800 +/- 1.135) (P < 0.001). SFRP1 scores did not vary significantly among the CP subgroups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSFRP1 expression in the CP groups was significantly higher than that in the control group. Thus, SFRP1 may play a significant role in the development of CP.