The relationship of alpha1-antitrypsin to inflammatory periodontal disease

Alpha1-antitrypsin (alpha1-AT) is a serum protease inhibitor with a well established role in bodily defense against destructive inflammatory diseases. alpha1-AT exhibits inheritable genetic polymorphism (Pi types). Certain Pi types have been shown to predispose to emphysema and, in this study, also appear to be related to increased chronic periodontitis susceptibility.