The increased ratio of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 versus 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 in chronic periodontitis irrespective of obesity

11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11 beta-HSD1), which converts inactive cortisone to active cortisol, has been reported to play an important role in metabolic diseases as well as chronic inflammatory diseases. The involvement of 11 beta-HSD1 in chronic periodontitis was investigated in the present study. The relationship between the levels of 11 beta-HSD1, chronic periodontitis, and body mass index (BMI) was analyzed. The expression of 11 beta-HSD1 mRNA was significantly higher in the chronic periodontitis group than in the control group. Since the expression of 11 beta-HSD2, which converts active cortisol to inactive cortisone, was slightly lower in the chronic periodontitis group than in the controls, the ratio of 11 beta-HSD1 versus 11 beta-HSD2 was significantly higher in the chronic periodontitis group than in the controls. A correlation was not observed between BMI and the level of 11 beta-HSD1 or between BMI and the ratio of 11 beta-HSD1 versus 11 beta-HSD2. These results suggested that an increase in the ratio of 11 beta-HSD1 versus 11 beta-HSD2 was associated with chronic periodontitis irrespective of obesity.