Correlation between Interleukin-1β, Interleukin-6 and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α and Clinical Parameters in Chronic and Aggressive Periodontal Disease

Background and aims. It has been reported that Type I hypersensitivity plays an important role in periodontal diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible correlation between interleukin-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α as immunologic mediators and gingival clinical parameters in chronic and aggressive periodontitis. Materials and methods. Clinical parameters including clinical attachment level (CAL), probing depth (PD) and bleeding index of 11 patients with moderate-to-advanced periodontitis were recorded; gingival tissue specimens from 12 chronic and 14 aggressive active sites, harvested from interproximal areas during their routine periodontal surgeries, were cultured with Fetal Calf Serum + RPMI + Amphotericin + Gentamicin in 96-well plates for 72 hours. The cytokines present in the culture media were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ElISA) in each case and the results were statistically analyzed by ANCOVA, Pearson's and Spearman's rho. Results. Mean values of CAL, PD, IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α 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 between the three cytokine concentrations in aggressive and chronic periodontitis. There were no correlations between cytokine concentrations and clinical parameters. There were direct statistical correlations between IL-6 and TNF-α in both periodontitis types (p<0.05) and direct statistical correlations between IL-1β and TNF-α only in chronic periodontitis (p<0.05). Conclusion. Regarding irritation due to bacterial products in both types of periodontitis and synergy among them, especially the correlation between TNF-α and both IL-1β and IL-6, TNF-α seems to play a more important role; however, further studies are strongly recommended.