Cytokines in periodontal health and disease

The periodontal tissues are among the most biologically active tissues in the body, exhibiting a remarkably high turnover rate of the cells and tissues. Health (normalcy) in the periodontium is the result and sum of an ongoing dynamic interaction characterized by both anabolic and catabolic activities. The balance between effector molecule-induced tissue breakdown and tissue formation is the essence of periodontal health. At the molecular level, all cells are capable of expressing a broad range of these effector molecules, including matrix proteins, proteases and cytokines. There is abundant evidence that cytokines, which are secreted by fibroblasts, endothelial cells, epithelial cells and cells of the immune system, play a decisive role in tissue homeostasis, acting in concert with matrix metalloproteinases and their natural inhibitors, tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases. The objective of this book is to review and discuss the importance of cytokines in periodontal health as well as in diseased state.