Expression Levels of Local Protective Factors in Oral Mucosa: A Comparative Pilot Study Between Healthy Patients and Chronic Periodontitis Patients

Abstract This study examined the expression of local protective factors — Gal-10, hBD-3, hBD-2, LL-37, and CD163 — in the oral mucosa of chronic periodontitis patients compared to healthy patients. Seven chronic periodontitis patients and five control group patients of Latvian nationality were included, all meeting the selection criteria. Tissue samples underwent haematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemical analysis. Results were analysed semi-quantitatively with Mann–Whitney U test and Spearman’s correlation. Routine staining showed moderate to significant infiltration, without intergroup differences. Controls displayed low-moderate Gal-10, hBD-3, hBD-2 expression, while LL-37 and CD-163 were rare. Chronic periodontitis samples showed few Gal-10, hBD-3, hBD-2, LL-37 positive cells, with CD-163 only occasionally present. No significant differences were found via Mann–Whitney U test. Spearmen’s rank correlation revealed significant correlations: in the control group — between hBD-2 and LL-37 (epithelium), hBD-3 (connective tissue) and CD-136 (macrophages), and LL-37 (epithelium) along with GAL-10 (connective tissue). In chronic periodontitis — one strong correlation between HBD-2 (connective tissue) and HBD-3 (epithelium). Similar local protective factors expression between chronic periodontitis patients and controls suggest comparable local immune status in the Latvians. These results highlight the complexity of oral immunity and the need for further studies on localised immune components in periodontitis.