Kramer Jill M, Gaffen Sarah L
Department of Oral Biology, School of Dental Medicine, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14212, USA.
J Periodontol. 2007 Jun;78(6):1083-93. doi: 10.1902/jop.2007.060392.
Chronic diseases, such as periodontal disease (PD) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), are characterized by a robust immune response resulting in unresolved inflammation. Inflammation is mediated by proinflammatory cytokines; recently, a novel subset of T-helper (Th) cells was identified that plays a crucial role in inflammation and autoimmune disease. This population secretes several proinflammatory cytokines, including the novel cytokine interleukin (IL)-17, and, hence, has been termed "Th17." Inflammatory cytokines are implicated in the progression of localized chronic infections, such as PD, and in serious systemic pathologies, such as diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cardiovascular disease. IL-17 mediates inflammation through a receptor (IL-17R) composed of two subunits, IL-17RA and IL-17RC. Drugs that antagonize inflammatory cytokines are used therapeutically to downregulate immune-mediated pathology in conditions such as RA, although not all patients respond well to this approach. Therefore, identification of potential novel therapeutic targets, such as the IL-17 signaling complex, may be clinically relevant for mitigating inflammatory pathology. However, the manner in which such a therapeutic may influence the onset and progression of PD is poorly understood. Therapeutics that antagonize inflammatory cytokines ameliorate inflammation and bone loss and may have broader implications for individuals with systemic diseases in which inflammation and autoimmunity predominate.
诸如牙周病（PD）和类风湿性关节炎（RA）等慢性疾病的特征是存在强烈的免疫反应，导致炎症无法消退。炎症由促炎细胞因子介导；最近，一种新型辅助性T（Th）细胞亚群被发现，它在炎症和自身免疫性疾病中起关键作用。这群细胞分泌几种促炎细胞因子，包括新型细胞因子白细胞介素（IL）-17，因此被称为“Th17”。炎症细胞因子与局部慢性感染（如牙周病）的进展以及严重的全身性疾病（如糖尿病、慢性阻塞性肺疾病和心血管疾病）有关。IL-17通过由两个亚基IL-17RA和IL-17RC组成的受体（IL-17R）介导炎症。在类风湿性关节炎等病症中，拮抗炎症细胞因子的药物被用于治疗以下调免疫介导的病理状况，尽管并非所有患者对这种方法都有良好反应。因此，识别潜在的新型治疗靶点，如IL-17信号复合物，可能在减轻炎症病理方面具有临床相关性。然而，这种治疗方法可能影响牙周病的发病和进展的方式却知之甚少。拮抗炎症细胞因子的治疗方法可改善炎症和骨质流失，对于以炎症和自身免疫为主的全身性疾病患者可能具有更广泛的意义。
