Sex-based Dysregulation of Inflammation-related Genes in Periodontitis.

Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting a large population all over the world. This condition is linked with abnormal expression of numerous genes. We measured levels of , , , and in gingival tissue and circulation of people with periodontitis and healthy controls. was more expressed in tissue samples of female patients compared with female controls (Ratio of mean expression (RME) =4.16, P=0.02). However, this gene was less expressed in the blood of female patients compared with female control subjects (RME=0.12, P=0.04). was less expressed in the blood of male patients compared with male controls (RME=0.20, P=0.02). Finally, was less expressed in total blood samples compared with total controls (RME=0.3, P<0.001) and in blood samples of female patients compared with female control subjects (RME=0.02, P<0.001). had the best area under curve (AUC) value in differentiation of patients' tissues from normal tissues (AUC=0.60, sensitivity=0.37, specificity=0.92). In distinction of abnormal blood samples from controls, had the best performance (AUC=0.85, sensitivity=0.66, specificity=0.91). In brief, we demonstrated a sex-dependent dysregulation of and genes in circulation or tissue of patients with periodontitis.