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Interleukin‐17–producing T cells and interleukin‐17 mRNA expression in periodontitis and long‐standing gingivitis lesions
Author(s) -
ThorbertMros Sara,
Larsson Lena,
Kalm Josephine,
Berglundh Tord
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of periodontology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.036
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1943-3670
pISSN - 0022-3492
DOI - 10.1002/jper.18-0326
Subject(s) - gingivitis , periodontitis , medicine , cd3 , immunohistochemistry , biopsy , interleukin , aggressive periodontitis , pathology , dentistry , immunology , cytokine , cd8 , antigen
Background T helper17 cells (Th17) are key targets in the evaluation of differences between “destructive” and “non‐destructive” periodontal lesions. The aim of the present study was to analyze the density of interleukin‐17 (IL‐17) producing T cells and IL‐17 mRNA expression in lesions representing severe periodontitis and longstanding gingivitis. Methods Two groups of patients were recruited. The gingivitis group consisted of 28 patients, 41–70 years old, with evident signs of gingival inflammation but no attachment loss. The periodontitis group consisted of 36 patients, 33–67 years of age. A gingival biopsy was obtained from one selected diseased site from each patient and prepared for immunohistochemical and reverse transcription, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‐qPCR) analysis. Results Although the density of CD3 positive cells (T cells) did not differ between the two types of lesions, the total number and density of cells positive for CD3+CD161 (IL‐17‐producing T‐cells) were larger in periodontitis than in long‐standing gingivitis lesions. About 30% of CD3‐cells in periodontitis lesions were also positive for CD161. The corresponding figure for gingivitis samples was 15%. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) analysis revealed that differences between periodontitis and gingivitis samples remained after adjusting for smoking, age, and gender. In addition, males had larger proportions of IL‐17 producing T cells than females in both groups. The IL‐17 mRNA expression was higher in periodontitis than in gingivitis samples. Conclusion It is suggested that IL‐17 producing T cells represent a significant feature in the detection of differences between destructive and non‐destructive lesions.