The potential role of chemokines and inflammatory cytokines in periodontaldisease progression

Inflammation is regulated by the expression of mediators that cause a numbe r of pleiotropic events culminating In the recruitment of inflammatory cell s and release of biologic mediators by leukocytes. If the inflammation is t ransient in nature, it can protect the host by activating defense mechanism s and initiating wound repair. However, if the inflammation is inappropriat e, it can lead to considerable tissue damage. My colleagues and I have inve stigated the role of chemokines, particularly monocyte chemoattractant prot ein I, in various pathological processes and the role of the proinflammator y cytokines interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in experim ental periodontitis. I will discuss first the studies on chemokines and the n the use of IL-1 and TNF blockers in inhibiting inflammation and bone loss in the periodontium.