The immunopathogenic and immunomodulatory effects of interleukin‐12 in periodontal disease |
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| Authors: | Benjar Issaranggun Na Ayuthaya Vincent Everts Prasit Pavasant |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Dentistry, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand;2. Research Unit of Mineralized Tissue, Faculty of Dentistry, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand;3. Department of Oral Cell Biology, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), University of Amsterdam and VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands;4. Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Dentistry, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand |
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| Abstract: | Interleukin 12 (IL‐12) is an inflammatory cytokine that promotes the response of the immune system. This cytokine has been implicated as a potent stimulator of several diseases characterized by inflammatory‐induced bone destruction, such as rheumatoid arthritis and periodontitis. Yet, the exact role of IL‐12 in the development and progress of periodontitis has not been clarified. Several studies have demonstrated a positive correlation between the level of IL‐12 and the severity of periodontal destruction. Deletion of IL‐12 in mice with periodontitis significantly suppressed the level of bone destruction. Interestingly, next to a role in modulating the pathogenesis, IL‐12 also has immunological‐regulatory properties. This cytokine induces expression of immunosuppressive molecules, such as indoleamine‐pyrrole 2,3‐dioxygenase (IDO). Thus, these findings suggest both negative and positive influences of IL‐12 in periodontal disease. It is currently proposed that the diversity of action of cytokines is a molecular key which regulates biological development and homeostasis. Accordingly, the actions of IL‐12 might be one of the mechanisms that regulate homeostasis of periodontal tissue during and following inflammation. Therefore, this article aims to review both destructive and protective functionalities of IL‐12 with an emphasis on periodontal disease. |
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| Keywords: | bone remodeling immunomodulation inflammation interleukin‐12 periodontal disease |
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