Role of serum cytokines tumour necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 in the association between body weight and periodontal infection

Saxlin T, Suominen-Taipale L, LeiviskA J, Jula A, Knuuttila M, Ylostalo P. Role of serum cytokines tumour necrosis factor-alpha and IL-6 in the association between body weight and periodontal infection. J Clin Periodontol 2008; doi: 10.1111/j.1600-051X.2008.01350.x. To study the role of serum cytokines tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) as potential mediators in the association between body weight and periodontal infection among an adult population. This study was based on a subpopulation of the Health 2000 Health Examination Survey, which included dentate non-diabetic, non-rheumatic subjects, aged between 45 and 64 years, who had never smoked and whose serum levels of TNF-alpha and IL-6 were analysed and whose periodontal status was clinically determined (effective n=425). The number of teeth with periodontal pockets of 4 mm or more and the number of teeth with periodontal pockets of 6 mm or more were used as outcome variables. Relative risks and 95% confidence intervals were estimated using Poisson regression models. Serum IL-6, but not TNF-alpha associated with teeth with deepened periodontal pockets. Multivariate models showed that IL-6, but not TNF-alpha, could mediate the effect of body weight on periodontium. In this population of non-diabetic and non-rheumatic subjects, who had never smoked, serum IL-6 was associated with periodontal infection. The results suggest that serum IL-6 could be one mediating factor that connects body weight and periodontal infection.