Inhibition of elastase activity in human gingival extracts by elastin peptides
Robert, L.; Tixier, J.M.; Berenholc, S.; Levy, O.; Hornebeck, W.
Pathologie-Biologie 40(9): 879-882
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0369-8114 PMID: 1296160 Document Number: 390805
Effects of elastin peptides on elastase activity of gingival biopsy specimen extracts were studied in vitro and in vivo. All the extracts from biopsy specimens from 15 patients with a variety of periodontal diseases demonstrated fairly marked elastase activity. In vitro, addition of elastin peptides produced a mean inhibition of 54% +/- 14% with a concentration of 0.25 mg/ml and a mean inhibition of 90% +/- 6% with 2.5 mg/ml. In vivo treatment of gums with a paste containing 1% elastin peptides reduced elastase activity by 47% in 7 of 8 patients. These data suggest that elastin peptides are effective inhibitors of periodontal elastase activity and may be useful in preparations used for the preventive or curative treatment of periodontal diseases with tissue lysis.