Effects of smoking on the ex vivo cytokine production in periodontitis.
OBJECTIVE
Smoking is associated with increased severity of periodontitis. The underlying mechanisms of this phenomenon are not well understood. The purpose of the present study was to compare the monocyte-derived T cell directing (Th1/Th2) response and pro-inflammatory cytokine production in ex vivo whole blood cell cultures (WBCC) of smoking and non-smoking chronic periodontitis patients.


METHODS
Venous blood was collected from 29 periodontitis patients (18 non-smokers and 11 smokers) receiving supportive periodontal treatment, and diluted 10-fold for WBCC. The WBCC were stimulated for 18 h with Neisseria meningitidis lipo-oligosaccharide (LOS) or Porphyromonas gingivalis sonic extract (Pg-SE). The production of the T cell directing cytokines interleukin (IL)-12 p40 and IL-10, as well as the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1beta, IL-6 and IL-8, was measured in the culture supernatants.


RESULTS
After LOS stimulation of WBCC, smokers showed a lower IL-12 p40/IL-10 ratio than non-smokers (P < 0.05). Interleukin-1beta production was significantly lower in smokers compared with non-smokers after stimulation with either LOS or Pg-SE (P < 0.05). Interleukin-6 and IL-8 production was similar in WBCC from both smokers and non-smokers, for both LOS and Pg-SE.


CONCLUSIONS
A more pronounced Th2 response in smoking periodontitis patients may be related to increased severity of the disease.
de Heens
G L Torres
GL
Department of Periodontology, Academic Center for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), The Netherlands. g.torres@acta.nl
Kikkert
R
R
Aarden
L A
LA
van der Velden
U
U
Loos
B G
BG
D000328:Adult; D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002460:Cell Line; D055113:Chronic Periodontitis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000276:immunology; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000032:analysis; D053762:Interleukin-12 Subunit p40 / Q000032:analysis; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000032:analysis; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000032:analysis; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000032:analysis; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000276:immunology; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis / Q000276:immunology; D012907:Smoking / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D013347:Subcellular Fractions / Q000276:immunology; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology
D016207:Cytokines; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D053762:Interleukin-12 Subunit p40; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D016753:Interleukin-10