Both periodontitis and type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are common diseases with a multifactorial etiology and have influence of cytokines in their pathogenesis and thus may also influence each other. In recent times, more attention has been given to understanding the influences of these inflammatory cytokines which are a main part of oral chronic inflammation on systemic health of the individuals. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the plasma cytokine levels, specifically tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-4, in chronic periodontitis patients and T2DM patients, so as to investigate the influence of chronic periodontitis in systemic inflammation associated with diabetes mellitus.

The present study comprised a total sample size of 60 patients. A detailed history along with complete periodontal examination were done for each person. These patients were subdivided into four study groups with 15 subjects (n = 15) in each group: group I: healthy individuals, group II: chronic periodontitis, group III: diabetes mellitus without chronic periodontitis, and group IV: diabetes mellitus with chronic periodontitis. Venous blood was withdrawn for obtaining serum samples from the subjects. Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels were measured from the automated chromatography. Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit, TNF-α, IL-4, and IL-6 were measured.

It was observed that the difference between almost all the results showed statistical significance. Not much of a difference was seen when TNF-α and IL-6 findings of group II were compared with group III. Furthermore, IL-4 also did not differ when group II was compared with group IV.

The inflammatory cytokines together control the inflammation process and a balance is maintained. However, in patients with diabetes mellitus, this balance is interrupted, which affects the final development and progression of the disease. Thus, hyperglycemia may be partly associated with the severity of the periodontal status in diabetic patients.

Hyperglycemia thus may play a role in increasing the severity of the periodontal status in diabetic patients. Keeping such relationship in mind, better treatment modalities can be provided to the patients.

Bakshi D, Kaur G, Singh D, Sahota J, Thakur A, Grover S. Estimation of Plasma Levels of Tumor Necrosis Factor-α, Interleukin-4 and 6 in Patients with Chronic Periodontitis and Type II Diabetes Mellitus. J Contemp Dent Pract 2018;19(2):166-169.