Exploring the role of Th1 cytokines: interleukin-17 and interleukin-18 in periodontal health and disease.

There are conflicting data regarding the role of interleukin (IL)-17 in periodontal health and disease. However, IL-18 levels are known to increase with the severity of periodontal disease. The present study was performed to explore the role of these proinflammatory cytokines in periodontal disease progression, and also to clarify the effect of periodontal treatment on their concentration. Sixty age- and gender-matched subjects were divided into three groups each consisting of 20 subjects on the basis of gingival index (GI), probing pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment loss (CAL) and radiological parameters (bone loss): healthy (group 1), gingivitis (group 2) and chronic periodontitis (group 3), while group 3 patients after treatment constituted group 4. GCF samples collected from all the groups were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to estimate the levels of IL-17 and IL-18. IL-18 levels in GCF increased proportionally with the severity of periodontal disease, and decreased after treatment. However, IL-17 levels in GCF were nearly zero. Since our data indicate an absence of IL-17 in GCF, it cannot be considered as a biomarker of periodontal disease progression, at least in Indian populations. However, IL-18 appears to be a good inflammatory biomarker.

Crevicular fluid levels of plasma glutathione peroxidase (eGPx) in periodontal health and disease.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been implicated in numerous human diseases, including periodontal diseases. Plasma glutathione peroxidase (eGPx) as an important antioxidant, has a protective role against ROS and is an established marker of oxidative stress. The present study evaluated the levels of eGPx in GCF to further probe into the role of oxidants and antioxidants in periodontal disease. METHODS: 60 subjects were divided into three groups consisting of 20 subjects in each group based on gingival index, pocket probing depth, clinical attachment loss and radiological parameters (bone loss): healthy (group 1), gingivitis (group 2) and periodontitis (group 3), whilst, group 3 patients after the treatment constituted group 4. GCF samples were collected from all groups to estimate the levels of eGPx using ELISA. RESULTS: The mean eGPx concentration in GCF were observed to be the highest in group 3 i.e., 30.89+/-4.93 ng/microl and lowest in group 1 i.e., 15.32+/-3.06 ng/microl. The mean eGPx concentration in group 2 (23.77+/-2.91 ng/microl) and group 4 (18.92+/-3.53 ng/microl) fell between the highest and the lowest values. CONCLUSION: This suggests that eGPx levels in GCF increase proportionally with the severity of periodontal diseases. eGPx can be considered as a marker of oxidative stress in periodontal diseases. However, controlled, longitudinal studies with larger samples have to be carried out to confirm this possibility.