Gingival cytokines and clinical parameters in aggressive and chronic periodontitis

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the possible correlation among Interleukin 1-beta (IL1-beta), IL-6, Tumor necrotizing factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), attachment loss (LoA), and probing depth (PD) from gingival samples from persons with chronic and aggressive periodontitis.

Methods: Clinical parameters—including LoA, PD, and bleeding index—from 11 persons with moderate to advanced periodontitis were recorded. Gingival tissue specimens from 12 chronic and 14 aggressive active sites, harvested from interproximal sites during routine periodontal surgeries, were cultured with Fetal Calf Serum+RPMI+Amphotericin+Gentamicin in 96-well plates for 72 hrs. The cytokines present in the culture media were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and results were statistically analyzed (ANCOVA, Pearson, Spearman's rho, p < 0.05).

Results: The overall means of LoA, PD, IL1-beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha were 6.8 ± 1.3 mm, 6.5 ± 1.2 mm, 111.23 ± 143.4, 10.1 ± 16.9, and 5.2 ± 0.2, respectively. There were no significant differences among the 3 cytokine concentrations in aggressive and chronic periodontitis. There was no correlation between cytokine concentrations and clinical parameters. There were direct statistical correlations between IL-6 and TNF-alpha in periodontitis (p < 0.05) and direct statistical correlations between IL1-beta and TNF-alpha only in chronic periodontitis (p < 0.05).

Conclusions: Regarding the irritation of bacterial products in both types of periodontitis, and synergy among them (especially the correlation between TNF-alpha and both IL1- beta and IL-6), TNF-alpha seems to play a more important role; however, future studies are strongly suggested.