TBC1D15 / Rab7 / Fis1 Pathway in Periodontal Disease

This study will look at certain proteins in the fluid found around the gums (called gingival crevicular fluid, or GCF) of people with healthy gums, gingivitis (mild gum inflammation), or periodontitis (more severe gum disease). The proteins being studied, TBC1D15, Rab7, and Fis1, help control the health of mitochondria, which act like tiny "power plants" inside our cells. When mitochondria become damaged, the body normally breaks them down and recycles them through a process these proteins help control. It is not yet known how this process relates to gum disease. Seventy-two healthy adults will take part in this study and will be grouped based on the health of their gums. A sample of gum fluid (GCF) will be collected from each participant and tested to measure the levels of these proteins. Researchers want to find out whether the levels of these proteins change as gum disease becomes more severe. If levels differ between people with healthy gums and those with periodontitis, this may suggest that problems with mitochondrial health and cleanup play a role in how gum disease develops and gets worse. This information may help researchers better understand the biological processes involved in gum disease and could eventually lead to new ways to detect or treat it earlier.