Transforming growth factor-beta, interleukin-17, and IL-23 gene expression profiles associated with human peri-implantitis.

OBJECTIVES: The mRNA expression profiles of IL-23/Th17 and the Treg-associated cytokine TGF-beta in peri-implantitis are currently under research. This study characterized the IL-17, IL-23, and TGF-beta gene expression levels in healthy and diseased peri-implant tissues and correlated these data with radiographic bone loss. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Peri-implant soft tissues from 40 subjects (20 healthy controls with mean age of 59.4 +/- 6.3, and 20 with peri-implantitis with mean age of 56.6 +/- 5.5) were enrolled in this study, and real-time PCR (RT-PCR) was used to define the profile of IL-17, IL-23, and TGF-beta gene expression. RESULTS: Higher levels of TGF-beta mRNA were observed in biopsies taken from healthy controls, and the IL-23 mRNA levels were significantly increased in the peri-implantitis group (P < 0.0001). No differences in IL-17 mRNA levels were observed between the two groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Data presented in this report demonstrated a predominant Th17 response in peri-implantitis subjects based on the higher levels of IL-23 and lower levels of TGF-beta detected.