CD4+ Th17 IL-23R+ Increase in Generalized Chronic Periodontitis Patients

Objectives: To compare the percentages of Th17 cells, CD4+CD161+ and CD4+CD161+IL-23R+, in systemically healthy subjects with healthy periodotium/gingivitis and generalized chronic periodontitis.
Methods: Informed consent was obtained from all participants. Systemically healthy patients were periodontally diagnosed using the criteria of the AAP 1999 for the presence of gingival or periodontal disease and divided in two groups: Healthy/Gingivitis (H/G) or Generalized Chronic Periodontitis (GCP). Rheumatoid factor (RF) test was performed on all subjects; positive RF subjects were excluded from the study. A peripheral blood sample was obtained and percentages of CD3+CD4+CD161+IL-23R+ cells were determined using flow cytometry. Basal levels of Mean Fluorescence intensity (MFI) for CD161 and IL-23R were measured.
Results: 13 H/G and 15 GCP subjects were analyzed. CD4+CD161+ percentages did not differ in peripheral blood samples between H/G and GCP groups (19,59% vs 21,84%, p=0,5493); however there was a statistically significant increase in the percentage of Th17IL-23R+ cells in the GCP patients (0,20% vs 0,75%, p=0,0003). The MFI for CD161 and IL-23R was low in both groups.
Conclusions: There was no difference in the percentage of total Th17 (CD4+CD161+) cells between the groups. The Th17 phenotype, CD4+CD161+IL-23R+ was increased in peripheral blood of systemically healthy individuals with generalized chronic periodontitis.