RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Interleukin-21 (IL-21) controls the differentiation of T-helper Th17 cells and induces the production of IL-17 in this T-cell subtype. The aim of this study is to determine the relative expression of IL-21 in gingival tissues of chronic periodontitis patients and correlate/associate this expression with proinflammatory cytokines and clinical parameters of disease. METHODS: Samples of gingival biopsies were collected from chronic periodontitis patients (n = 10) and controls (n = 8). The mRNA expressions of IL-21, IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-17, IL-23, IL-10, and transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1) were quantified using real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. IL-21 levels were compared between chronic periodontitis and healthy gingival tissues and correlated with cytokine and clinical parameters of tissue destruction. RESULTS: A significant overexpression of IL-21, IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-17, and IL-23p19 was detected in periodontal disease-affected tissues compared to healthy gingival tissues. IL-10 and TGF-ß1 were, however, downregulated in periodontal lesions. IL-21 yielded significant positive correlations with probing depth, clinical attachment level, IL-1ß, and IL-6. In addition, IL-21 was negatively correlated with IL-10 and TGF-ß1. CONCLUSIONS: IL-21 was overexpressed in chronic periodontitis gingival tissues and correlated with clinical parameters of periodontal destruction and with proinflammatory cytokines. Therefore, IL-21 might play a role in the tissue destruction that characterizes chronic periodontal disease.