Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 30, 2026

Demonstration of Cutaneous Allodynia in Association with Chronic Pelvic Pain
Published on: June 23, 2009
Interleukin-21 and its association with chronic periodontitis
Rani Vilas Lokhande1, Jeevan Gangadhar Ambekar1, Kishore Gajanan Bhat2
1Department of Biochemistry, Shri B. M. Patil Medical College, Vijayapura, Karnataka, India.
Context:
Interleukin-21 (IL-21) is a pleiotropic cytokine, well documented to contribute to the development of Th17 cells which have been shown to play an important role in the pathogenesis of periodontitis. Periodontal disease is a chronic infection of tooth-supporting tissue.
Aim:
This study evaluates the saliva and serum levels of IL-21 in patients with chronic periodontitis and periodontally healthy individuals.
Settings And Design:
The present study was carried out in the Department of Microbiology in association with Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Maratha Mandal's N.G.H Institute of Dental Sciences and Research Centre, Belgavi, Karnataka.
Materials And Methods:
Fifty samples of each group were included in the present study. The levels of IL-21 were assessed using a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit and the results were expressed as pg/mL.
Statistical Analysis Used:
Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 17.0 software. Data were expressed as mean ± standard deviation and interquartile ranges and comparison of controls and cases by Mann-Whitney test.
Results:
Serum and salivary levels of IL-21 were significantly higher in chronic periodontitis group than in controls (P < 0.001). Clinical periodontal parameters correlated positively with serum IL-21 levels.
Conclusions:
IL-21 is highly expressed in patients with chronic periodontitis and correlated well with clinical parameters of periodontal destruction. Therefore, IL-21 appears to play a role in tissue destruction and can be used as diagnostic biomarker in chronic periodontitis. Saliva can be considered to be a useful alternative to serum as a diagnostic sample.
Related Concept Videos
Association Areas of the Cortex
Prefrontal Association Area: This area is located in the frontal lobe and is involved in planning, decision-making, and moderating social behavior. It connects with primary motor areas,...
Associative Learning
Classical conditioning, also known...
Somatosensory, Motor, and Association Cortex
Genome-wide Association Studies-GWAS
GWAS does not require the identification of the target gene involved in...
Chronic Pharyngitis
Etiology
It often arises from persistent viral or bacterial infections affecting sinuses and tonsils.
Additional contributing factors include inadequate dental hygiene, mouth breathing, recurring tonsillitis, allergic rhinitis, laryngopharyngeal reflux, and exposure to smoke, chemicals, and other environmental pollutants. Allergic reactions to pollen, mold, and pet dander, chronic cough, excessive voice usage,...
Chronic Pancreatitis I: Introduction
Pancreatitis is the inflammation of the pancreas, which occurs when the immune system becomes active and causes swelling, pain, and disruptions in organ function. Pancreatitis can manifest as either an acute or chronic condition.
Acute pancreatitis arises suddenly and lasts for a brief duration, while chronic pancreatitis is a long-term affliction...

