Interleukin-11, interleukin-1β, interleukin-12 and the pathogenesis of inflammatory periodontal diseases

• Published in: Journal of clinical periodontology Vol. 35; no. 5; pp. 365 - 370
• Main Authors: Yücel, Özlem Özer, Berker, Ezel, Gariboğlu, Semra, Otlu, Harika
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.05.2008
• Subjects: gingival crevicular fluid; gingivitis; IL-11; IL-12; IL-1β; inflammation; periodontitis
• ISSN: 0303-6979; 1600-051X
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-051X.2008.01212.x

Objectives: The balance between pro‐inflammatory and anti‐inflammatory cytokines may be crucial for determining the immunopathology of gingivitis (G) and periodontitis. This study aimed to analyse interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β), IL‐11 and IL‐12 levels in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of patients with G and chronic periodontitis (CP). Material and Methods: Fourty subjects including 12 CP, 14 G and 14 controls (C) were enrolled. GCF samples were collected from six maxillary sites per patient and analysed for IL‐1β, IL‐11 and IL‐12 by an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Significantly lower concentrations of IL‐11 were detected in CP compared with both G and C groups (p<0.05). The CP group had a significantly higher total amount of IL‐12 and IL‐1β compared with the C group (p<0.05). The IL‐11:IL‐1β cytokine ratio was higher in both G and C groups compared with the CP group. The IL‐11:IL‐1β ratio became progressively lower with increasing probing depth (p<0.01). Conclusions: Our data showed that IL‐11 levels are significantly decreased in GCF from sites with periodontitis compared with G and healthy sites. Because of the possible preventive effect of IL‐11 on inflammation, IL‐11 may be an important factor in the therapeutic modulation of periodontal disease.