Transcription Factor AhR, Cytokines IL-6 and IL-22 in Subjects with and without Peri-Implantitis: A Case Control-Study

• Published in: International journal of environmental research and public health Vol. 19; no. 12; p. 7434
• Main Authors: Martins, Luis Ricardo Linard, Grzech-Leśniak, Kinga, Castro dos Santos, Nidia, Suárez, Lina J., Giro, Gabriela, Bastos, Marta Ferreira, Shibli, Jamil Awad
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 17.06.2022; MDPI
• Subjects: Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors - metabolism; Brief Report; Case-Control Studies; Cytokines; Cytokines - metabolism; Dental implants; Gene expression; Humans; Inflammatory diseases; Interleukin-22; Interleukin-6 - genetics; Interleukins; Pathogenesis; Peri-Implantitis - genetics; Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon - metabolism; Transcription factors; United States > US; Germany; Th22 lymphocytes; interleukin-22; transcription factor aryl-hydrocarbon receptor; gene expression; interleukin-6; peri-implantitis
• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19127434
• ISSN: 1660-4601; 1661-7827

Peri-implantitis is a plaque-associated condition characterized by mucosal inflammation and subsequent progressive loss of supporting bone; it is caused by bacterial biofilm, but the host response triggered by bacterial stimulation promotes the release of cells and mediators that culminate in tissue destruction. The Aryl-hydrocarbon Receptor (AhR) is associated with IL-22 production by Th22 and Th17 CD4+ Th cells. The presence of IL-6 may promote the Th22 phenotype. The present case-control study evaluated the gene expression of AhR, IL-22, and IL-6 in the peri-implant tissues of healthy and peri-implantitis patients. Tissue biopsies were collected from thirty-five volunteers (15 healthy and 20 with peri-implantitis). A real-time PCR reaction was utilized to assess the AhR, IL-22, and IL-6 gene expression levels relative to the reference gene (GAPDH). The results were analyzed using the Mann–Whitney test with a significance level of 5%. Higher levels of gene expression of AhR and IL-6 were detected in peri-implantitis tissues. The IL-22 gene expression levels did not differ between groups. In conclusion, higher gene expression levels for AhR and IL-6 were detected in the soft tissues of peri-implantitis patients. IL-22 did not vary between conditions, which may indicate the loss of the immunomodulatory role of IL-22 in periimplantitis.