Topic: AMMP-8 oral fluid PoC test

Abstract

There is rising interest about influences of periodontal diseases on systemic health, while traditional measures cannot quantify periodontal inflammation. Confusing case definitions make the need to quantify periodontal inflammation greater than ever. Modern measures of periodontal inflammation depend on metabolism-mediated changes in salivary metabolites (salivary metabolomics)-an extra mile in salivary diagnostics. Matrix metalloproteinase-8 fits well into the latest model of chronic periodontitis polymicrobial synergy and dysbiosis (PSD). Once instituted, host-derived mediators of inflammation perpetuate periodontal inflammation through cytokines and proteolytic enzymes including MMP-8, especially in its active form (aMMP-8). aMMP-8 correlates well with periodontal disease severity and activity, is effective in disease monitoring, and is the most abundant host-derived collagenolytic matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) in the saliva, mouth rinse, gingival crevicular and peri-implant sulcular fluids. Based on these characteristics, Finnish periodontologists together with German and Finnish biotechnology companies invented a novel aMMP-8 chairside test kit using unstimulated whole mouth rinse as a substrate. The point-of-care (PoC) kit measures periodontitis quickly and accurately through a simple color change. The test detected initial periodontitis among adolescents, as well as chronic periodontitis in a variety of clinical scenarios relevant to important reproductive health parameters and had high validity and reliability. When applied to adult Nigerian and adolescent Finnish subjects, researchers stumbled upon a chance discovery-raised aMMP-8 level among close to 90% of Nigerian pregnant women.