IADR Abstract Archives

Identification of IL-17+FOXP3+ T cells in periodontitis lesions

Objectives: Th17, a new T helper subset that preferentially produces IL-17, is suggested to be involved in the pathogenesis of periodontitis. Recently, it has been reported that FOXP3+ Tregs produce IL-17 upon stimulation with appropriate inflammatory cytokines. Here, we investigated the infiltration of IL-17+FOXP3+ T cells in periodontitis lesions.

Methods: We analyzed the characteristics of gingival and peripheral blood CD4+ T-cell lines established from nine patients with chronic periodontitis. In addition, we obtained gingival biopsies from another ten patients and immunohistochemically characterized infiltrating cells.

Results: The proportion of Tregs (IL-17A-FOXP3+ cells) was significantly lower but the proportion of Th17 cells (IL-17A+FOXP3- cells) was tended to be higher in gingival CD4+ T-cell lines than in peripheral blood CD4+ T-cell lines. The ratio of IL-17A+FOXP3+ cells to total FOXP3+ cells was significantly higher in gingival CD4+ T-cell lines than in peripheral blood CD4+ T-cell lines. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that, in addition to Tregs and Th17 cells, IL-17+FOXP3+ cells were identified in periodontitis lesions.

Conclusion: This study identified for the first time the infiltration of IL-17+FOXP3+ T cells in periodontitis lesions. These data suggest that an in vivo conversion of Tregs to Th17 cells may be associated with the pathogenesis of periodontitis.


Japanese Division Meeting
2011 Japanese Division Meeting (Hiroshima, Japan)
Hiroshima, Japan
2011

Scientific Groups
  • Okui, Takafumi  ( Niigata University, Niigata, N/A, Japan )
  • Aoki, Yukari  ( Niigata University, Niigata, N/A, Japan )
  • Ito, Harue  ( Niigata University, Niigata, N/A, Japan )
  • Honda, Tomoyuki  ( Niigata University, Niigata, N/A, Japan )
  • Yamazaki, Kazuhisa  ( Niigata University, Niigata, N/A, Japan )
    • Periodontal Research