Background: Chronic periodontitis is a multifactorial polymicrobial infection characterized by an inflammatory process that leads to destruction of teeth supporting tissues. In periodontal tissue destruction, cytokines appear to have a central role, and there is a complex network of pro-and anti-inflammatory cytokines acting in the inflamed periodontal tissues.
Aims of the study: This study was designed to evaluate the ratio between pro-and antiinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β\IL-10 and TNF-α\IL-10) in chronic periodontitis patients. Subjects and Methods: A total of 50 patients with chronic periodontitis and 25 healthy volunteers were studied, who were considered as control. Periodontal parameters used in this study were plaque index, gingival index, probing pocket depth, clinical attachment level and bleeding on probing. Serum concentrations of IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-10 were assessed by means of enzyme-linked immune-sorbent assay.
Results: The current results revealed that median serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β and TNF-α) were significantly higher in patients than in healthy controls (p<0.001), whereas the serum levels of anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10) was significantly low in patients when compared to control (p<0.001). On the other hand, the ratios of IL-1β\IL-0 and TNF-α\IL-0 were significantly higher in patients when compared with the ratios in control group.
Conclusion: The present results may provide direct evidence for the systemic activation of immune cells in periodontitis, and suggests that cytokines may play an important role in pro-inflammatory response in serum of patients with chronic periodontitis. Moreover imbalance between pro and anti-inflammatory cytokines could be involved in the initiation and progression of chronic periodontitis and is indicative of a stronger systemic proinflammatory state in disease.
