Gingival crevicular fluid Bax, Bcl-xl, interleukin-22, and transforming growth factor beta 1 levels in stage III periodontitis

Intrinsic apoptosis plays a critical role in immune defense and inflammation. Its dysregulation is involved in various chronic diseases. The B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) family primarily mediates this mitochondrial pathway. This study aimed to investigate the proapoptotic Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) and antiapoptotic B-cell lymphoma-extra large (Bcl-xl) levels and their association with interleukin-22 (IL-22) and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) in the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of patients with periodontitis. A total of 75 systemically healthy nonsmokers were enrolled, of whom 23 had stage III periodontitis, 26 had gingivitis, and 26 were periodontally healthy. Whole-mouth clinical periodontal measurements were recorded. Bax, Bcl-xl, IL-22, and TGF-β1 levels in the GCF were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Data were analyzed using nonparametric statistical tests. The periodontitis group had significantly lower GCF Bax levels than the gingivitis group (p