Background: Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a broad-spectrum multifunctional cytokine with mitogenic, motogenic, morphogenic, and antiapoptotic functions in various types of cells. It is secreted by mesenchymal cells, including gingival fibroblasts, and its expression is induced by inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, which play a potential role in periodontal destruction. Hence, the present study was carried out to assess HGF's concentration in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and to determine its association with periodontal disease progression.

Methods: Sixty subjects (aged 29 to 39 years) were divided into three groups based on gingival index, probing depth, clinical attachment loss, and radiographic evidence of bone loss: healthy (group I), gingivitis (group II), and chronic periodontitis (group III). The fourth group consisted of the 20 subjects in group III, from whom GCF samples were collected 6 to 8 weeks after scaling and root planing (SRP). The levels of HGF were estimated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Further, the correlation between HGF levels and clinical parameters in all groups and before and after treatment in periodontitis patients was analyzed.

Results: The highest mean HGF concentration was observed for group III (26.28 ± 14.77 pg/μl), and the lowest mean concentration was observed for group I (13.99 ± 11.24 pg/μl). Following SRP, the mean HGF concentration decreased from 26.28 ± 14.77 pg/μl to 14.35 ± 13.96 pg/μl, which was statistically significant.

Conclusions: HGF concentration increased proportionally with the progression of periodontal disease, and HGF concentrations showed a positive correlation with the clinical parameters, suggesting that HGF plays a key role in periodontal disease progression. Also, following non-surgical periodontal therapy, the levels of HGF decrease significantly suggesting that HGF could be useful for monitoring the response to periodontal therapy.