Levels of interleukin-21 in patients with untreated chronic periodontitis

Nicolás Dutzan, Catalina Rivas, Jocelyn García-Sesnich, Leslie Henríquez, Oriana Rivera, Andrea Dezerega, Marcela Hernández, Nora Silva, Juan Carlos Aguillón, Javier Puente, Rolando Vernal, Jorge Gamonal*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

15 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: A growing body of evidence suggested that interleukin (IL)-21 enhances the effector phase during T-cell responses. The aim of our study is to determine the levels of IL-21 in periodontal sites from patients with chronic periodontitis and controls. Methods: The population studied consisted of 34 patients (15 with chronic periodontitis and 19 healthy patients). Twenty samples (10 gingival crevicular fluid [GCF] and 10 gingival biopsies) were collected from each group before the patients with periodontitis received periodontal treatment. Total protein concentrations were measured in all samples; the presence of IL-21 was confirmed by immunohistochemistry and Western blot, and IL-21 levels were quantified through an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Statistical analyses were performed using statistical software. Data were expressed as patient means ± SDs or medians (interquartile ranges) by using the x 2, Student t, and Mann-Whitney U tests. Results: GCF IL-21 was mainly detected in patients with chronic periodontitis (P <0.05). Levels of IL-21 in gingival tissues were significantly higher in patients with chronic periodontitis compared to healthy individuals (P <0.05). The Western blot and immunohistochemical staining confirmed the presence of IL-21 in periodontal tissues and GCF. Conclusion: IL-21 was highly expressed in patients with chronic periodontitis, especially in gingival biopsies; therefore, IL-21 might play a role in the T-cell response.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1483-1489
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Periodontology
Volume82
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2011
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Cytokines
  • Interleukin-21
  • Pathogenesis
  • Periodontal disease

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