[Study of cytokine production in inflamed human gingival tissues in periodontitis. Interleukin-1 (IL-1 alpha, beta) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF alpha)].

Abstract

It seems to be generally agreed that periodontal disease is a local manifestation of a systemic immune response. Interleukin-1 (IL-1), which has multiple biologic activities, is detected in the gingival sulcus fluid of periodontitis sites. Recent investigations have revealed that IL-1 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) are analogous to osteoclast activating factor and promote bone resorption. These findings have suggested the possibility that IL-1 and TNF may play a significant role in the initiation and development of periodontal disease. However, it remains to be determined whether these cytokines influence periodontal tissue breakdown in periodontitis. To elucidate the mechanisms of tissue breakdown in periodontitis, we examined cytokine production by human periodontitis gingival tissue. Twelve periodontitis patients were included in this study. Control subjects with healthy periodontium consisted of nine individuals. Gingival samples were biopsied from inflamed or healthy gingival tissues. Biopsy specimens were dissected into fragments 3 mm in diameter and plated onto 24 well culture plates with RPMI 1640 medium. IL-1 activity was measured by a growth inhibition assay using melanoma cell line A 375. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELIZA) was used for measuring levels of human IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta. TNF alpha activity was measured by a growth inhibition assay using cell line LM2D6. IL-1 activity was detected in significantly (p less than 0.001) higher levels in culture supernatants from gingival tissues in periodontitis (48.0 +/- 23.3 units/ml) than in control tissues (2.3 +/- 0.6 units/ml), however, levels of IL-1 activity were not associated with periodontal pocket depth or extent of alveolar bone resorption in periodontitis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)