Systemic Cytokines in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Chronic Periodontitis.

Background: Cytokine dysregulation plays an important role in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) and Chronic Periodontitis (CP) with a commonality in pathogenic mechanisms. CP is considered the sixth complication of diabetes and may have an increased influence on systemic levels of cytokines in individuals with T2DM.

Objective: This study investigated two pro-, and two presumed anti-inflammatory cytokines and their ratios in the serum of healthy individuals, in chronic periodontitis with and without T2DM with, and without CP and in CP alone aimed at evaluating the systemic inflammatory burden of a local oral infection.

Methods: Eighty participants were divided equally into four groups as healthy volunteers (H) and patients having T2DM with, and without CP (T2DM+CP, and T2DM) and only CP (CP). Serum samples were collected to measure glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), Random Blood Sugar (RBS) and also Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)-α, Interleukin (IL)-4, -6 - 10 were assessed using commercially available ELISA kits.

Results: The cytokines were detected in all groups. Significant differences were observed between groups for all the clinical, biochemical parameters and cytokines. Cytokine levels and the ratios showed significant correlations. The ratios of the cytokines differed significantly amongst groups, were highest in T2DM+CP.

Conclusion: In this study, the cytokine ratios provided a qualitative profile along with the absolute levels in T2DM with periodontitis, indicative of an intensified systemic inflammatory state.