A New Paradigm in Autoimmunity-Role In Periodontal Disease

Chronic diseases, such as periodontal disease and rheumatoid arthritis, are characterized by a robust immune response resulting in unresolved inflammation. Inflammation is mediated by proinflammatory cytokines; recently, a novel subset of T-helper (Th) cells was identified that plays a crucial role in inflammation and autoimmune disease. This population secretes several proinflammatory cytokines, including the novel cytokine interleukin (IL)-17, and, hence, has been termed ''Th17.'' Inflammatory cytokines are implicated in the progression of localized chronic infections, such as periodontal disease, and in serious systemic pathologies, such as diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cardiovascular disease. Therapeutics that antagonize inflammatory cytokines ameliorate inflammation and bone loss and may have broader implications for individuals with systemic diseases in which inflammation and autoimmunity predominate.