K. Yamazaki et al., CYTOKINE MESSENGER-RNA EXPRESSION IN CHRONIC INFLAMMATORY PERIODONTAL-DISEASE, Oral microbiology and immunology, 12(5), 1997, pp. 281-287
Citations number
34
Categorie Soggetti
Immunology,Microbiology,"Dentistry,Oral Surgery & Medicine
It has previously been reported that, in periodontitis lesions, T cell
s with a memory/activated phenotype and with a type 2 cytokine profile
accumulate in an oligoclonal fashion. Delineation of the role of cyto
kines in periodontal inflammation has, however, been complicated becau
se of cross-regulation and because of their overlapping and often redu
ndant effects. The aim of this study was to examine messenger RNA leve
ls for interferon gamma, interleukin 4 (IL-4), IL-10, IL-12 and IL-13
in gingival tissues and peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients
with adult periodontitis. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reac
tion and subsequent image analysis was used to determine the level of
mRNA for each cytokine. The mean expression of interferon gamma mRNA w
as significantly higher in peripheral blood mononuclear cells than in
gingival tissues. In contrast, the mean expression of IL-10 mRNA was h
igher in gingival tissues than in peripheral blood mononuclear cells.
This high expression of IL-IO mRNA was, in fact, seen in only 7 gingiv
al tissue samples with the majority of samples showing levels similar
to peripheral blood mononuclear cells. There was no difference in the
mean expression of IL-12 p35 mRNA between gingival tissues and periphe
ral blood mononuclear cells. However, IL-12 p40 mRNA was expressed hig
her in gingival tissues than in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in
6 out of 16 samples with significant difference of mean expression. Li
ke IL-10, gingival tissue samples and peripheral blood mononuclear cel
ls expressed similar levels of IL-12 p40 mRNA. There was no difference
in the mean expression of IL-13 in gingival tissues and peripheral bl
ood mononuclear cells. Nevertheless, more peripheral blood mononuclear
cell samples demonstrated high IL-13 mRNA expression than gingival ti
ssue samples. IL-4 mRNA was weak but detectable in 3 gingival tissue s
amples. These results support the concept that cytokines form complex
networks in periodontitis lesions and that their overlapping and redun
dant effects should be taken into account when considering the patholo
gy of inflammatory periodontal disease. Dichotomous expression of IL-1
0 and IL-12 p40 mRNA in the periodontal lesion may be associated with
disease entity.