AbstractObjectivesThe aim of this study is to examine correlations between different oral rinse matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)‐8 protein species in western blot (WB) analysis, quantitative MMP‐8 measurements, and patient‐related factors. Elevated activated MMP‐8 (aMMP‐8) associate with periodontitis and a diagnostic point‐of‐care technology has been developed based on aMMP‐8. In WB, different MMP‐8 protein species can be analyzed. Relative abundancy of fragmented 20–25 kDa forms in WB has been associated with and reflects MMP‐8 activation and related fragmentation and elevated quantitative aMMP‐8 measurements.Material and MethodsA random sample of 192 participants from a periodontal disease screening study was used for this study. Oral rinse samples for biomarker analyses were collected before clinical periodontal examinations. aMMP‐8 immunofluorometric (IFMA) and WB analysis (utilizing the same monoclonal antibody, 8708), polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) elastase activity test and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP)‐1 ELISA levels were performed from the oral rinse samples. Distinct MMP‐8 protein species were differentiated in the WB analysis. Principal component (PC) analysis was conducted to explore correlation patterns between the different species. Adjusted correlation analysis between the extracted PCs of WB and aMMP‐8 IFMA levels and multilevel regression analysis were conducted to explore if the other periodontal disease‐related biomarkers and clinical surrogate measures and patient‐related factors are co‐variating with the extracted components.ResultsDistinct correlation patterns between the MMP‐8 protein species were observed. The first four PCs explained 89% of the whole variance in PC analysis. Statistically significant correlation (p < 0.05) were observed as follows: PC1 positively with 21 kDa (r = .69) and 25 kDa fragments (r = .55) and negatively with 150 kDa complexes (r = −.46). PC2 correlated with 45 (r = .70) and 55 kDa (r = .65) activated forms, PC3 with 70–80 kDa latent proforms (r = .63) and 90–100 kDa complexes (r = .67), and PC4 with 35 kDa fragments (r = .81). There were significant correlations between quantitative (IFMA) aMMP‐8 measurements and PC1 (p < 0.001), PC2 (<0.05) and PC3 (<0.05) but not with PC4. In multilevel regression models age, PMN elastase activity, TIMP‐1 levels, and a number of 4–5 mm periodontal pockets were associated with PC1, nonsmoking with PC2, age and PMN elastase activity with PC3, and age and smoking with PC4.ConclusionsRelative abundancy of fragmented 21–25 kDa protein species was correlated with the quantitative aMMP‐8 (IFMA) measurements, which is in line with previous results. Different patient‐related factors (smoking, age, proteolytic activity) may modify the formation of different MMP‐8 protein species in oral rinse samples and may cause variability in quantitative aMMP‐8 measurement.