Signs of the presence of Th17 cells in chronic periodontal disease

Abstract

Background and objective: The aim of this study was to identify the specific markers of T helper 17 (Th17) cells and their variations in people suffering from chronic periodontal disease in comparison with normal control subjects.

Material and methods: In 30 patients with periodontitis and 30 normal control subjects, the mRNA expressions of interleukin (IL)-17A and retinoic orphan receptor C2 (RORC2) were measured by quantitative RT-PCR. The protein levels of IL-17A and RORC2 were also evaluated by immunohistochemistry. The levels of these markers were compared between healthy and diseased periodontal tissues by the Mann-Whitney U-test.

Results: In periodontal lesions, IL-17A and RORC2 were significantly overexpressed compared with normal tissues. According to our immunohistochemical analysis, the number of IL-17A-positive cells and RORC2-positive cells was significantly greater in periodontal lesions compared with control sites. Moreover, there was a positive correlation between the presence of IL-17A and RORC2 transcript and protein content levels in the gingiva of diseased patients.

Conclusion: The results demonstrated a significant increase in the number of some specific markers of Th17 cells in patients suffering from periodontal disease in comparison with normal control subjects.