Immunoinflammatory response in periodontal diseases

Periodontitis is a complex disease, depending on genetic and environmental factors. In its early stage, a local response of the innate immune system takes place, resulting in a release of neutrophils, whose activation is evoked by endogenous chemokines, a subtype of cytokines family. In this review, the immunological activity of as well as essential participation of cytokines in the induction and modulation of effector mechanisms in the pathogenesis of periodontitis was described. The characteristics of genetic polymorphisms in the promoter regions for cytokine transcription was given, as well as those of functional polymorphisms in the cytokine genes. Strong genetic association with the production intensity of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines was shown, and their dysregulated expression was related to inflammatory reactions within the tissues of the stomatognathic system. It is assumed that the incidence of periodontal diseases may arise from genetically polymorphic gene variants. Knowledge in this area will facilitate development of cytokine-targeted immunotherapies, which may constitute a promising way to cure periodontitis and in which a lot of hope currently has been placed. To undertake novel optimal strategy of treatment seems to be inevitable in respect to minimal side effects that can be provided to living organism.