INTERLEUKIN-1 RECEPTOR ANTAGONIST AND INTERLEUKIN-4 IN GINGIVAL CREVICULAR FLUID OF PATIENTS WITH INFLAMMATORY PERIODONTAL-DISEASE

Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) we re detected in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) by an immunochemical me thod. However, me could not detect IL-4 in GCF from severe inflammatio n sites. In addition, we sought to detect which cells had produced cyt okines in moderately inflamed gingival tissues by means of immunohisto chemistry. The cell types expressing CD 68 were identified as monocyte s/macrophages and stained positively for IL-1ra. The helper T cells id entified by immunostaining for CD 4 stained positively for IL-4. These results suggest that IL-4 is one of the mediators regulating the degr ee of local inflammation id periodontal disease.