title: The contribution of interleukin-13 and -15 to the cytokine network within normal and diseased gingiva.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There are no comparisons of concentrations of interleukin (IL)-13 and -15 and gingival sulcular depth within healthy or inflamed gingiva. Study of non-oral inflammations indicated that IL-15 has similar functions to IL-2, and IL-13 has similar functions to IL-4 and -10. Thus, IL-13 and -15 likely have a function in gingival inflammation.
  
  
  METHODS
  We compared the concentrations of IL-13 and -15 within healthy or inflamed human gingiva to gingival sulcular depth and the concentration of various T-helper 1 and T-helper 2 cytokines in a group of Hispanic subjects. Gingival papillae were grouped by the depth of the adjacent gingival sulcus: <or=3 mm (normal); 3 to 6 mm and >6 mm (diseased). The gingival concentrations of IL-2, -4, -6, -10, -13, and -15 and interferon (IFN)-gamma were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  IL-2, -4, -6, -10, and -13 and IFN-gamma concentrations were higher within gingiva adjacent to 3 to 6 mm diseased compared to normal; IL-15 concentrations were significantly greater within normal gingiva than within diseased gingiva (P <0.001). Within gingiva adjacent to >6 mm sulci, IL-6 concentrations were significantly higher than in normal gingiva, and the concentrations of the other cytokines were similar to those in normal gingiva. Gingival IL-6 concentration correlated significantly with the adjacent gingival sulcular depth, whereas the IL-15 concentration correlated inversely with the adjacent gingival sulcular depth (P <0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IL-13, -4, and -10 had a similar concentration pattern within normal and diseased tissue; however, the concentration pattern of IL-15 was not similar to IL-2. Relatively low IL-15 concentrations within diseased gingiva suggest that IL-15 might have anti-inflammatory properties.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics and Preventive Sciences, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216-4505, USA. rjohnson@sod.umsmed.edu
authors.forename: Roger B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Francis G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Serio
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005881:Gingiva / Q000276:immunology*; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000032:analysis*; D019409:Interleukin-15 / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D018793:Interleukin-13; D019409:Interleukin-15