Cytokine levels in gingival tissues as an indicator to understand periodontal disease severity

Cytokines regulate periodontal pathogenesis and are relevant estimates of current disease activity. There is sparse information on status of cytokine protein levels in periodontal pocket (gingival) tissues. The current study analysed proteins and transcripts of selected cytokines in varying severity of periodontal disease and elucidated cytokine/cytokine ratios that best indicated periodontal disease severity, in gingival tissues. A total of 92 participants comprising of generalised moderate periodontitis (GMP, n = 18), generalised severe periodontitis (GSP, n = 46) and periodontally healthy controls (PHC, n = 25) were recruited for the study. Interproximal gingival tissue samples were utilised for cytokine protein estimation and mRNA quantification by qRT-PCR and ELISA respectively. Selected key pro and anti-inflammatory cytokines, also representative of various Th subsets were analysed. ROC curve analysis was performed and Youden index was calculated for individual cytokines and pro/anti-inflammatory cytokine ratio to estimate the best indicator of periodontal severity/progression in tissues. IL-1β, TGF-β and IFN-γ cytokine protein levels varied significantly (p ≤ 0.05) with severity of periodontal disease between groups. On comparison between deep and shallow sites within same participant, deep sites showed significant elevation of TGF-β (p ≤ 0.01) and IFN-γ (p ≤ 0.05) and IL-17 cytokines and shallow sites showed elevation of IL-4(p ≤ 0.01) and IL-1β (p ≤ 0.05) cytokines. Analysis of transcripts showed IFN-γ and IL-1β transcript predominance in GSP (p = 0.01) compared to PHC. ROC analysis illustrated 97% sensitivity, 93% specificity with Youden index of 90% for IL-1β cytokine and 81%sensitivity, 79% specificity with a Youden index of 60% for IL-1β/TGF-β ratio In periodontal pocket tissue, a lack of distinct predominance of specific cytokines between study groups or between shallow and deep sites affected by periodontal disease was observed. However, ROC analysis of cytokines revealed IL-1β cytokine and IL-1β/TGF-β ratio as promising indicators of periodontal disease severity in gingival tissues. Graphical abstract: [Display omitted] •IL-1, TGF-β and INF-γ cytokines emerged as markers of periodontal severity in the study.•IL-1 cytokine and IL-1/TGF-β ratio emerged as best indicators/predictors of periodontal disease in the study.•Presence of high concentrations of IL-17, TGF-β and IFN-γ in deep sites signifies lack of single cytokine predominance.