IL-10, IL-12 and IL-18 Levels in the Gingival Crevicular Fluid of Patients With Periodontitis and Healthy Controls

Periodontitis is a multifactorial chronic inflammatory disease characterized by the destruction of the tissues supporting the tooth. The incidence and rate of progression of periodontal destruction involves a complex interaction between periodontopathic bacteria and immune system cells. The complex cytokine network that mediates the immune response includes pro-inflammatory cytokines, anti-inflammatory cytokines, and specific cytokine receptors. Cytokines act as messengers to initiate, mediate, and control immune and inflammatory responses. It is known that the interaction of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines plays a very important role in the progression of periodontitis . The immune response to infection is regulated by the balance between T helper (Th)1 and Th2-type cytokines. Since Th1, Th2, and monocyte-derived cytokines in gingival tissues and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) play a role in periodontal inflammation, even a minimal imbalance in cytokine production may affect the induction of bone and collagen resorption in periodontal disease. For this reason, cytokines in inflamed periodontal tissues, which are the focus of many studies, are of great importance in the progression of periodontal disease. In this study, our aim is to evaluate the local cytokine response in relation to the clinical periodontal status by determining the IL-10, IL-12 and IL-18 concentrations in the gingival crevicular fluid of individuals with grade B-C stage III-IV periodontitis according to the 2017 Classification of Periodontal and Peri-implant Diseases and Conditions. In this way, besides clinical and radiographic determinations in the diagnosis of periodontal disease, IL-10, IL-12 and IL-18 are measured to evaluate whether these markers have an effect on the diagnosis of the disease.