Spandidos Publications Logo
  • About
    • About Spandidos
    • Aims and Scopes
    • Abstracting and Indexing
    • Editorial Policies
    • Reprints and Permissions
    • Job Opportunities
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Contact
  • Journals
    • All Journals
    • Oncology Letters
      • Oncology Letters
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
    • International Journal of Oncology
      • International Journal of Oncology
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
    • Molecular and Clinical Oncology
      • Molecular and Clinical Oncology
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
    • Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine
      • Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
    • International Journal of Molecular Medicine
      • International Journal of Molecular Medicine
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
    • Biomedical Reports
      • Biomedical Reports
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
    • Oncology Reports
      • Oncology Reports
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
    • Molecular Medicine Reports
      • Molecular Medicine Reports
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
    • World Academy of Sciences Journal
      • World Academy of Sciences Journal
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
    • International Journal of Functional Nutrition
      • International Journal of Functional Nutrition
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
    • International Journal of Epigenetics
      • International Journal of Epigenetics
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
    • Medicine International
      • Medicine International
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
  • Articles
  • Information
    • Information for Authors
    • Information for Reviewers
    • Information for Librarians
    • Information for Advertisers
    • Conferences
  • Language Editing
Spandidos Publications Logo
  • About
    • About Spandidos
    • Aims and Scopes
    • Abstracting and Indexing
    • Editorial Policies
    • Reprints and Permissions
    • Job Opportunities
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Contact
  • Journals
    • All Journals
    • Biomedical Reports
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
    • Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
    • International Journal of Epigenetics
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
    • International Journal of Functional Nutrition
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
    • International Journal of Molecular Medicine
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
    • International Journal of Oncology
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
    • Medicine International
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
    • Molecular and Clinical Oncology
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
    • Molecular Medicine Reports
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
    • Oncology Letters
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
    • Oncology Reports
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
    • World Academy of Sciences Journal
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
      • Archive
  • Articles
  • Information
    • For Authors
    • For Reviewers
    • For Librarians
    • For Advertisers
    • Conferences
  • Language Editing
Login Register Submit
  • This site uses cookies
  • You can change your cookie settings at any time by following the instructions in our Cookie Policy. To find out more, you may read our Privacy Policy.

    I agree
Search articles by DOI, keyword, author or affiliation
Search
Advanced Search
presentation
World Academy of Sciences Journal
Join Editorial Board Propose a Special Issue
Print ISSN: 2632-2900 Online ISSN: 2632-2919
Journal Cover
September-October 2025 Volume 7 Issue 5

Full Size Image

Sign up for eToc alerts
Recommend to Library

Journals

International Journal of Molecular Medicine

International Journal of Molecular Medicine

International Journal of Molecular Medicine is an international journal devoted to molecular mechanisms of human disease.

International Journal of Oncology

International Journal of Oncology

International Journal of Oncology is an international journal devoted to oncology research and cancer treatment.

Molecular Medicine Reports

Molecular Medicine Reports

Covers molecular medicine topics such as pharmacology, pathology, genetics, neuroscience, infectious diseases, molecular cardiology, and molecular surgery.

Oncology Reports

Oncology Reports

Oncology Reports is an international journal devoted to fundamental and applied research in Oncology.

Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine

Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine

Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine is an international journal devoted to laboratory and clinical medicine.

Oncology Letters

Oncology Letters

Oncology Letters is an international journal devoted to Experimental and Clinical Oncology.

Biomedical Reports

Biomedical Reports

Explores a wide range of biological and medical fields, including pharmacology, genetics, microbiology, neuroscience, and molecular cardiology.

Molecular and Clinical Oncology

Molecular and Clinical Oncology

International journal addressing all aspects of oncology research, from tumorigenesis and oncogenes to chemotherapy and metastasis.

World Academy of Sciences Journal

World Academy of Sciences Journal

Multidisciplinary open-access journal spanning biochemistry, genetics, neuroscience, environmental health, and synthetic biology.

International Journal of Functional Nutrition

International Journal of Functional Nutrition

Open-access journal combining biochemistry, pharmacology, immunology, and genetics to advance health through functional nutrition.

International Journal of Epigenetics

International Journal of Epigenetics

Publishes open-access research on using epigenetics to advance understanding and treatment of human disease.

Medicine International

Medicine International

An International Open Access Journal Devoted to General Medicine.

Journal Cover
September-October 2025 Volume 7 Issue 5

Full Size Image

Sign up for eToc alerts
Recommend to Library

  • Article
  • Citations
    • Cite This Article
    • Download Citation
    • Create Citation Alert
    • Remove Citation Alert
    • Cited By
  • Similar Articles
    • Related Articles (in Spandidos Publications)
    • Similar Articles (Google Scholar)
    • Similar Articles (PubMed)
  • Download PDF
  • Download XML
  • View XML
Article Open Access

Salivary IL‑8 and TNF‑α as potential diagnostic biomarkers for dental caries

  • Authors:
    • Heba Kazhaal Mahmood
    • Ahmed Abdul‑Hassan Abbas
    • Saif Salahuddin Jasim
    • Fadia Abd‑Muhsin Al‑Khayat
    • Batool Hassan Al‑Ghurabi
  • View Affiliations / Copyright

    Affiliations: Department of Basic Sciences, College of Dentistry, University of Baghdad, 89XH+47F, Baghdad, Iraq, Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Al‑Nahrain University, Kadhimiya, 98HF+2R, Baghdad, Iraq, Department of Dentistry, Ashur University, 89M6+PVC, Baghdad, Iraq
    Copyright: © Mahmood et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License [CC BY 4.0].
  • Article Number: 83
    |
    Published online on: July 2, 2025
       https://doi.org/10.3892/wasj.2025.371
  • Expand metrics +
Metrics: Total Views: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )
Metrics: Total PDF Downloads: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )
Cited By (CrossRef): 0 citations Loading Articles...

This article is mentioned in:



Abstract

Dental caries constitutes the major burden on oral health worldwide, with untreated dental caries being among the most prevalent health conditions. Cytokines play a critical role in the immunopathogenesis of dental caries. It is worth mentioning that the salivary levels of interleukin (IL)‑8) and tumor necrosis factor‑α (TNF‑α) have been reported to differ between patients with caries and those without caries. The aim of the present study was to determine the diagnostic accuracy of salivary levels of cytokines (IL‑8 and TNF‑α) for differentiating between subjects with caries and those without caries. For the present case‑control study, whole unstimulated salivary samples were collected from 44 adult individuals who were divided into two groups as follows: 22 subjects with dental caries and 22 without caries. Clinical parameters were recorded, including caries experience (decayed, missing, filled surfaces), plaque index and gingival index. Enzyme‑linked immunosorbent assay was used to determine the salivary levels of cytokines. The results revealed that the mean levels of salivary cytokines (IL‑8 and TNF‑α) were elevated in the group with caries as compared to those without caries (the control group; P<0.05). IL‑8 was able to discriminate between patients with dental caries from healthy controls (area under the curve value, 0.735). Moreover, the levels of salivary cytokines exhibited positive correlations (P<0.05). On the whole, the present study found higher amounts of cytokines in the saliva of patients with caries; thus, these cytokines perhaps contribute to the development of caries. IL‑8 demonstrated moderate clinical accuracy in discriminating patients with caries from the controls.
View Figures

Figure 1

Scatter plot depicting the correlation
between the PLI and GI, TNF-α, IL-8 and DMFS levels in the patient
group. Each dot (•) represents a data point for an individual
subject in this group. The line represents the linear regression
line fitted to the data. The coefficient of determination
(R2) indicates the proportion of the variance in PLI
that is predictable from other parameters. PLI, plaque index; GI,
gingival index; DMFS, decayed, missing and filled surfaces.

Figure 2

Scatter plot depicting the correlation
between the GI and TNF-α, IL-8 and DMFS levels in the patient
group. Each dot (•) represents a data point for an individual
subject in this group. The line represents the linear regression
line fitted to the data. The coefficient of determination
(R2) indicates the proportion of the variance in GI that
is predictable from other parameters. PLI, plaque index; GI,
gingival index; DMFS, decayed, missing and filled surfaces.

Figure 3

Scatter plot depicting the correlation
between the TNF-α and (IL-8 and DMFS) levels in the patient group.
Each dot (•) represents a data point for an individual subject in
this group. The line represents the linear regression line fitted
to the data. The coefficient of determination (R2)
indicates the proportion of the variance in TNF-α that is
predictable from other parameters. PLI, plaque index; GI, gingival
index; DMFS, decayed, missing and filled surfaces.

Figure 4

Receiver operating curves (ROC) for
salivary cytokine levels in the patients vs. the controls. AUC,
area under the curve.
View References

1 

Ali AA and Belgasem KA: Dental caries experience of primary school children in Sirte-libya. Saudi J Oral Dent Res. 9:1–6. 2024.

2 

Meyer F, Schulze Zur Wiesche E, Amaechi BT, Limeback H and Enax J: Caries etiology and preventive measures. Eur J Dent. 18:766–776. 2024.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar

3 

Duangthip D, Gao SS, Chen KJ, Lo ECM and Chu CH: Oral health-related quality of life and caries experience of Hong Kong preschool children. Int Dent J. 70:100–107. 2020.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar

4 

Kareem SJ and Al-Ghurabi BH: Regulatory role of human neutrophil peptides (HNP1-3) on Interleukin-6 production in early childhood caries. J Emergency Med Trauma Acute Care. 2023(11)2023.

5 

Alarcón-Sánchez MA, Becerra-Ruiz JS, Avetisyan A and Heboyan A: Activity and levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-8 in saliva of children and young adults with dental caries: A systematic review and Meta-analysis. BMC Oral Health. 24(816)2024.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar

6 

Hussein BJ, Atallah HN and Al-Dahhan NAA: Salivary levels of interleukin-6, interleukin-8 and tumor necrosis Factor-alpha in smokers aged 35-46 years with dental caries disease. Medico Legal Update. 20:1464–1470. 2020.

7 

Tampa M, Mitran MI, Mitran CI, Sarbu MI, Matei C, Nicolae I, Caruntu A, Tocut SM, Popa MI, Caruntu C and Georgescu SR: Mediators of inflammation-a potential source of biomarkers in oral squamous cell carcinoma. J Immunol Res. 2018(1061780)2018.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar

8 

Abdelaziz M: Detection, diagnosis, and monitoring of early caries: The future of individualized dental care. Diagnostics (Basel). 13(3649)2023.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar

9 

Silness J and Loe H: Periodontal disease in pregnancy. II. Correlation between oral hygiene and periodontal condtion. Acta Odontol Scand. 22:121–135. 1964.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar

10 

Navazesh M: Methods for collecting saliva. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 694:72–77. 1993.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar

11 

Al-Hindawi SH, Luaibi NM and Al-Ghurabei BH: Possible use of saliva as a diagnostic tool in hypothyroidism. J Biosci Biotech. 6:539–542. 2017.

12 

Sharma V, Gupta N, Srivastava N, Rana V, Chandna P, Yadav S and Sharma A: Diagnostic potential of inflammatory biomarkers in early childhood caries-A case control study. Clin Chim Acta. 471:158–163. 2017.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar

13 

Benabdelmoumene S, Dumont S, Petit C, Poindron P, Wachsmann D and Klein JP: Activation of human monocytes by Streptococcus mutans serotype f polysaccharide: Immunoglobulin G Fc receptor expression and tumor necrosis factor and interleukin-1 production. Infect Immun. 59:3261–3266. 1991.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar

14 

Biria M, Sattari M, Iranparvar P and Eftekhar L: Relationship between the salivary concentrations of proteinase-3 and interleukin-8 and severe early childhood caries. Dent Med Probl. 60:577–582. 2023.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar

15 

Børsting T, Venkatraman V, Fagerhaug TN, Skeie MS, Stafne SN, Feuerherm AJ and Sen A: Systematic assessment of salivary inflammatory markers and dental caries in children: An exploratory study. Acta Odontol Scand. 80:338–345. 2022.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar

16 

Rinderknecht C, Filippi C, Ritz N, Fritschi N, Simmen U, Filippi A and Diesch-Furlanetto T: Associations between salivary cytokines and oral health, age, and sex in healthy children. Sci Rep. 12(15991)2022.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar

17 

Gornowicz A, Bielawska A, Bielawski K, Grabowska SZ, Wójcicka A, Zalewska M and Maciorkowska E: Pro-inflammatory cytokines in saliva of adolescents with dental caries disease. Ann Agric Environ Med. 19:711–716. 2012.PubMed/NCBI

18 

Zhao A, Blackburn C, Chin J and Srinivasan M: Soluble toll like receptor 2 (TLR-2) is increased in saliva of children with dental caries. BMC Oral Health. 14(108)2014.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar

19 

Keller JF, Carrouel F, Colomb E, Durand SH, Baudouin C, Msika P, Bleicher F, Vincent C, Staquet MJ and Farges JC: Toll-like receptor 2 activation by lipoteichoic acid induces differential production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in human odontoblasts, dental pulp fibroblasts and immature dendritic cells. Immunobiology. 215:53–59. 2010.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar

20 

Al-Ghurabi BH: The role of soluble TLR-2 in the immunopathogenesis of Gingivitis. Int Med J. 28:37–39. 2021.

21 

Seyedmajidi M, Khodadadi E, Maliji G, Zaghian M and Bijani A: Neutrophil count and level of interleukin-1β and interleukin-8 in the saliva of three to five year olds with and without dental caries. J Dent (Tehran). 12:662–668. 2015.PubMed/NCBI

22 

Leme LAFP, Rizzardi KF, Santos IB and Parisotto TM: Exploring the relationship between salivary levels of TNF-α, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus gasseri, obesity, and caries in early childhood. Pathogens. 11(579)2022.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar

23 

Ali Al-Dahhan HA, Al-Kishwan SS, Dakheel AH and Dakheel BH: Assessment of some Pro-inflammatory cytokines in saliva of dental caries. Indian J Forensic Med Toxicol. 15:3035–3040. 2021.

24 

Nazemisalman B, Jafari F, Esmaelzadeh A, Faghihzadeh S, Vahabi S and Moslemi H: Salivary tumor necrosis factor-alpha and dental caries in children and adolescents. Iranian J Pediatrics. 29(e80899)2019.

25 

Ribeiro CCC, Pachêco CdJB, Costa EL, Ladeira LLC, Costa JF, da Silva RA and Carmo CDS: Proinflammatory cytokines in early childhood caries: Salivary analysis in the Mother/children pair. Cytokine. 107:113–117. 2018.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar

26 

Akcalı A, Çeneli SK, Meriç P, Nalbantsoy A, Ozçaka Ö and Buduneli N: Altered levels of inhibitory cytokines in patients with thalassemia major and gingival inflammation. Brazilian Dental Sci. 22:349–357. 2019.

27 

Ali AJ, Al-Juboori JNA and Al-Nimer M: Concomitant using of topical carrageenan-kappa and oral vitamin D against 7, 12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene induced-oral cancer in rats: A synergism or an antagonism effects. Brazilian Dental Sci. 23(7)2020.

28 

Hirsch V, Wolgin M, Mitronin AV and Kielbassa AM: Inflammatory cytokines in normal and irreversibly inflamed pulps: A systematic review. Arch Oral Biol. 82:38–46. 2017.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar

29 

Kurtiş B, Tüter G, Serdar M, Akdemir P, Uygur C, Firatli E and Bal B: Gingival crevicular fluid levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in patients with chronic and aggressive periodontitis. J Periodontol. 76:1849–1855. 2005.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar

30 

Lo Giudice R, Militi A, Nicita F, Bruno G, Tamà C, Lo Giudice F, Puleio F, Calapai F and Mannucci C: Correlation between oral hygiene and il-6 in children. Dent J (Basel). 8(91)2020.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar

Related Articles

  • Abstract
  • View
  • Download
Copy and paste a formatted citation
Spandidos Publications style
Mahmood HK, Abbas AA, Jasim SS, Al‑Khayat FA and Al‑Ghurabi BH: Salivary IL‑8 and TNF‑&alpha; as potential diagnostic biomarkers for dental caries. World Acad Sci J 7: 83, 2025.
APA
Mahmood, H.K., Abbas, A.A., Jasim, S.S., Al‑Khayat, F.A., & Al‑Ghurabi, B.H. (2025). Salivary IL‑8 and TNF‑&alpha; as potential diagnostic biomarkers for dental caries. World Academy of Sciences Journal, 7, 83. https://doi.org/10.3892/wasj.2025.371
MLA
Mahmood, H. K., Abbas, A. A., Jasim, S. S., Al‑Khayat, F. A., Al‑Ghurabi, B. H."Salivary IL‑8 and TNF‑&alpha; as potential diagnostic biomarkers for dental caries". World Academy of Sciences Journal 7.5 (2025): 83.
Chicago
Mahmood, H. K., Abbas, A. A., Jasim, S. S., Al‑Khayat, F. A., Al‑Ghurabi, B. H."Salivary IL‑8 and TNF‑&alpha; as potential diagnostic biomarkers for dental caries". World Academy of Sciences Journal 7, no. 5 (2025): 83. https://doi.org/10.3892/wasj.2025.371
Copy and paste a formatted citation
x
Spandidos Publications style
Mahmood HK, Abbas AA, Jasim SS, Al‑Khayat FA and Al‑Ghurabi BH: Salivary IL‑8 and TNF‑&alpha; as potential diagnostic biomarkers for dental caries. World Acad Sci J 7: 83, 2025.
APA
Mahmood, H.K., Abbas, A.A., Jasim, S.S., Al‑Khayat, F.A., & Al‑Ghurabi, B.H. (2025). Salivary IL‑8 and TNF‑&alpha; as potential diagnostic biomarkers for dental caries. World Academy of Sciences Journal, 7, 83. https://doi.org/10.3892/wasj.2025.371
MLA
Mahmood, H. K., Abbas, A. A., Jasim, S. S., Al‑Khayat, F. A., Al‑Ghurabi, B. H."Salivary IL‑8 and TNF‑&alpha; as potential diagnostic biomarkers for dental caries". World Academy of Sciences Journal 7.5 (2025): 83.
Chicago
Mahmood, H. K., Abbas, A. A., Jasim, S. S., Al‑Khayat, F. A., Al‑Ghurabi, B. H."Salivary IL‑8 and TNF‑&alpha; as potential diagnostic biomarkers for dental caries". World Academy of Sciences Journal 7, no. 5 (2025): 83. https://doi.org/10.3892/wasj.2025.371
Follow us
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
About
  • Spandidos Publications
  • Careers
  • Cookie Policy
  • Privacy Policy
How can we help?
  • Help
  • Live Chat
  • Contact
  • Email to our Support Team