Interleukin-21 expression and its association with proinflammatory cytokines in untreated chronic periodontitis patients.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Interleukin-21 (IL-21) controls the differentiation of T-helper Th17 cells and induces the production of IL-17 in this T-cell subtype. The aim of this study is to determine the relative expression of IL-21 in gingival tissues of chronic periodontitis patients and correlate/associate this expression with proinflammatory cytokines and clinical parameters of disease.

METHODS:

Samples of gingival biopsies were collected from chronic periodontitis patients (n = 10) and controls (n = 8). The mRNA expressions of IL-21, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-17, IL-23, IL-10, and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) were quantified using real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. IL-21 levels were compared between chronic periodontitis and healthy gingival tissues and correlated with cytokine and clinical parameters of tissue destruction.

RESULTS:

A significant overexpression of IL-21, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-17, and IL-23p19 was detected in periodontal disease-affected tissues compared to healthy gingival tissues. IL-10 and TGF-β1 were, however, downregulated in periodontal lesions. IL-21 yielded significant positive correlations with probing depth, clinical attachment level, IL-1β, and IL-6. In addition, IL-21 was negatively correlated with IL-10 and TGF-β1.

CONCLUSIONS:

IL-21 was overexpressed in chronic periodontitis gingival tissues and correlated with clinical parameters of periodontal destruction and with proinflammatory cytokines. Therefore, IL-21 might play a role in the tissue destruction that characterizes chronic periodontal disease.

• Authors: Nicolás Dutzan, Rolando Vernal, Jose P Vaque, Jocelyn García-Sesnich, Marcela Hernandez, Loreto Abusleme, Andrea Dezerega, J Silvio Gutkind, Jorge Gamonal
• Journal: Journal of periodontology (J Periodontol) Vol. 83 Issue 7 Pg. 948-54 (Jul 2012) ISSN: 1943-3670 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 22181687 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Cytokines
• Inflammation Mediators
• Interleukin-17
• Interleukin-1beta
• Interleukin-23
• Interleukin-23 Subunit p19
• Interleukin-6
• Interleukins
• Transforming Growth Factor beta1
• Interleukin-10
• interleukin-21

Topics

• Adult
• Chronic Periodontitis (immunology)
• Cytokines (analysis)
• Dental Plaque Index
• Female
• Gingiva (immunology)
• Humans
• Inflammation Mediators (analysis)
• Interleukin-10 (analysis)
• Interleukin-17 (analysis)
• Interleukin-1beta (analysis)
• Interleukin-23 (analysis)
• Interleukin-23 Subunit p19 (analysis)
• Interleukin-6 (analysis)
• Interleukins (analysis)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Periodontal Attachment Loss (immunology)
• Periodontal Index
• Periodontal Pocket (immunology)
• T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory (immunology)
• Th17 Cells (immunology)
• Transforming Growth Factor beta1 (analysis)