Title
Comparative evaluation of proinflammatory cytokine levels (IL-6 and TNF- α) in peri-implant crevicular fluid between new and reused healing abutments: A prospective study
Authors
Smrithi Sudhakaran*, R P Shanoj, K Nandakumar, John Francis, R Shaheena & Manisha P Manikandan
Affiliation
Department of Prosthodontics, Crown and Bridge, MES Dental College, Perinthalmanna, Malappuram, Kerala, India; *Corresponding author
Smrithi Sudhakaran - E-mail: smrithysudhass86@gmail.com
R.P Shanoj - E-mail: shanojrp_27@yahoo.co.in
K. Nandakumar - E-mail: drnandakumark@rediffmail.com
John Francis - E-mail: johnfrancismanadan@gmail.com
R. Shaheena - E-mail: dr.shaheena@hotmail.com
Manisha P Manikandan - E-mail: manishaplavingal@gmail.com
Article Type
Research Article
Date
Received September 1, 2026; Revised September 30, 2026; Accepted
September 30, 2026, Published September 30, 2026
Abstract
The extent to which reusing healing abutments contributes to peri-implant inflammation and how PICF cytokines can serve as reliable early biomarkers for it remains unclear. Therefore, it is of interest to compare the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in peri-implant crevicular fluid (PICF) around new and reused healing abutments and to correlate the levels with clinical parameters. Standardized paper points were used to collect PICF samples from the implant sites and the levels of IL-6 and TNF-α were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), while keratinized gingiva and bleeding index were evaluated clinically. The results showed significantly higher levels of IL-6 and TNF-α in site with peri-implant inflammation, a greater inflammatory response associated with reused healing abutments and a positive correlation between cytokine levels and bleeding index. The results suggest that the repeated use of healing abutments may be associated with increased peri-implant inflammation, possibly due to increased biofilm accumulation and changes in the surface.
Keywords
Biomarkers, cytokines, dental implants (DI), interleukin-6 (IL-6), peri-implant crevicular fluid (PICF), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)
Citation
Sudhakaran et al. Bioinformation 22(9): 6142-6147 (2026)
Edited by
Vini Mehta
ISSN
0973-2063
Publisher
License
This is an Open Access article which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly credited. This is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License.
