Proteomic Characteristics Of GCF In Periodontitis Treated With Er:Yaglaser

This study employed liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) technology to analyze the proteomic changes in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of patients with chronic periodontitis before and after Er:YAG laser treatment, aiming to explore the molecular mechanism behind how laser treatment regulates the inflammatory microenvironment. A total of 20 patients with moderate to severe periodontitis were enrolled, and GCF samples were collected both before and three months after laser treatment. Proteomic analysis revealed a total of 124 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) post-treatment, consisting of 78 down-regulated proteins (such as pro-inflammatory factors IL-1β, TNF-α, MMP-8) and 46 up-regulated proteins (including antimicrobial peptide LL-37, tissue repair-related protein TGF-β1, and osteocalcin). Bioinformatics analysis indicated that DEPs were significantly enriched in biological processes like inflammatory response (NF-κB, TLR signaling pathway), extracellular matrix remodeling (collagen synthesis and degradation balance), and innate immune regulation (complement activation pathway). Following laser treatment, the activity of neutrophil elastase in gingival crevicular fluid decreased by 62%, whereas the expression level of the antibacterial protein S100A8/A9 complex increased by 3.5 times. This suggests that the treatment promotes periodontal tissue regeneration by inhibiting the formation of pathogenic bacterial biofilms and regulating the host immune system in a bidirectional manner. This study offers proteomic evidence for the molecular mechanism of Er laser treatment in periodontitis, presenting new targets for optimizing laser parameters and evaluating therapeutic efficacy in clinical practice.