Inflammation and Bone Loss in Periodontal Disease

Inflammation and bone loss are hallmarks of periodontal disease (PD). The question is how the former leads to the latter. Accumulated evidence demonstrates that PD involves bacterially derived factors and antigens that stimulate a local inflammatory reaction and activation of the innate immune system. Proinflammatory molecules and cytokine networks play essential roles in this process. Interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha seem to be primary molecules that, in turn, influence cells in the lesion. Antigen-stimulated lymphocytes (B and T cells) also seem to be important. Eventually, a cascade of events leads to osteoclastogenesis and subsequent bone loss via the receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa…

• UO
  University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio