Interleukin-6 Levels and Clinical Parameters in Chronic Periodontitis Patients with and without Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Epidemiological studies have established that patients with diabetes have an increased prevalence and severity of periodontal disease. Interleukin (IL)-6 is a multifunctional cytokine that participates in normal functions of the immune system, haematopoiesis, metabolism, as well as in the pathogenesis of metabolic diseases such as diabetes. IL-6 also plays a role in the tissue inflammation that characterizes periodontal disease. This study was designed to compare IL-6 levels in saliva and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) with clinical parameter levels of chronic periodontitis patients with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Saliva and GCF samples and clinical parameters were obtained from 33 periodontitis patients with T2DMand 30 periodontitis patients without T2DM. IL-6 levels were assessed in the saliva and GCF by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) analysis. The clinical parameters and saliva & GCFIL-6 levels were compared between the two groups. The results showed higher clinical parameters and IL-6 levels in periodontitis patients with T2DM than periodontitis patients without T2DM. Within the limits of this study, it was concluded that T2DM was associated with increased expression of IL-6 in saliva and GCF of periodontitis patients with T2DM, relative to periodontitis patients without T2DM, and that such over expression may be involved in the mechanism by which T2DM enhances periodontal destruction