本研究目的在于评估牙周炎患者龈沟液（GCF）中肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）、Zonula occludens-1（ZO-1）、occludin（Occ）和tricellulin（Tric）的水平，以及吸烟对其的影响。紧密连接（tight junctions，TJ）由跨膜和细胞质骨架蛋白组成，连接牙周组织的上皮细胞。Occ、claudin、相接接头分子和Tric是细胞膜上的跨膜TJ蛋白。细胞膜上的跨膜TJ蛋白和细胞质骨架直接由ZO-1等细胞质骨架蛋白连接。尽管这些分子的功能和位置已经确定，但它们在牙周炎炎症中的行为尚不清楚。本研究包括四个组：牙周健康且不吸烟的个体（C组; n = 31）、患有广泛性3期牙周炎且不吸烟的个体（P组；n = 28）、牙周健康且吸烟的个体（CS组；n = 22）和患有广泛性3期牙周炎且吸烟的个体（PS组；n = 18）。记录了临床牙周参数，并使用酶联免疫吸附试验（ELISA）检查GCF中ZO-1、Occ、Tric和TNF-α的水平。在牙周炎组中，临床参数显著增高（p < .001）。P组的位点特异性TNF-α、ZO-1、Tric和Occ水平明显高于其他组（p < .05）。TNF-α、探测袋深度（PPD）和探测时出血（BOP）与所有TJ蛋白呈正相关（p < .005）。吸烟可能影响GCF中上皮TJ蛋白的水平，从而对牙周疾病的发病机制可能起到重要作用。© 2023 The Authors. Journal of Periodontal Research published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

This study aims to evaluate the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), occludin (Occ), and tricellulin (Tric) in periodontitis, as well as their alterations due to smoking.Tight junctions (TJ), which consist of transmembrane and cytoplasmic scaffolding proteins, connect the epithelial cells of the periodontium. Occ, claudins, junctional adhesion molecules, and Tric are transmembrane TJ proteins found at the cell membrane. The transmembrane TJ proteins and the intracellular cytoskeleton are directly linked by cytoplasmic scaffolding proteins such as ZO-1. Although the functions and locations of these molecules have been defined, their behavior in periodontal inflammation is unknown.The study included four groups: individuals with periodontal health without smoking (C; n = 31), individuals with generalized Stage III periodontitis without smoking (P; n = 28), individuals with periodontal health while smoking (CS; n = 22), and individuals with generalized Stage III periodontitis while smoking (PS; n = 18). Clinical periodontal parameters were recorded, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to examine ZO-1, Occ, Tric, and TNF-α levels in GCF.In the periodontitis groups, clinical parameters were significantly higher (p < .001). The site-specific levels of TNF-α, ZO-1, Tric, and Occ in the P group were statistically higher than those in the other groups (p < .05). TNF-α, probing pocket depth (PPD), and bleeding on probing (BOP) exhibited positive correlations with all TJ proteins (p < .005).Smoking could potentially affect the levels of epithelial TJ proteins in the GCF, thereby potentially playing a significant role in the pathogenesis of the periodontal disease.© 2023 The Authors. Journal of Periodontal Research published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.