The familial trend of the local inflammatory response in periodontal disease

Objectives The imbalanced host response in front of a dysbiotic biofilm is one of the major aspects of severe periodontitis, which also presents a strong familial aggregation related to the susceptibility factors transmission within family members. This study hypothesized that aggressive periodontitis (GAgP) patients and their descendants could present a similar trend of a local inflammatory response that is different from healthy controls. Methods Fifteen GAgP subjects and their children and fifteen healthy subjects and their children were clinically assessed, and the concentration of interferon (IFN)-gamma, interleukin (IL)-10, IL-17, IL-1 beta, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha was evaluated in the gingival fluid using the multiplexed bead immunoassay. Results Children from the GAgP group presented lower IL-10 and IFN-gamma subgingival concentration than Health children, despite no difference in the clinical parameters. GAgP parents showed a lower IFN-gamma, IL-10, and IL-6 than healthy subjects. IL-10/IL-1 beta and IFN-gamma/IL-4 ratios were reduced in GAgP dyads, suggesting a familial trend in the subgingival cytokine's profile. The cytokines correlated to the clinical data and were predictors of probing depth increase. Conclusion GAgP parents and their children presented a similar cytokine profile and an imbalance in the subgingival response characterized by decreased IFN-gamma/IL-4 and IL10/IL-1 beta ratios.