Relationship of Th_(17) cells and its self with periodontal disease

Help T cell 17(Th17), a newly discovered subset of T cells is associated with interleukin(IL)-23 and characterized by production of IL-17, which has protective effects on body by facilitating the pro-inflammatory responses. Periodontal disease is an infection-driven chronic inflammatory disease occurring in the tooth-supporting tissue such as gingival, periodontal membrane and alveolar bone. Its pathological mechanisms are closely related to local inflammatory of periodontal tissue. This review will introduce the differentiation and fanctions of Th17 cells in addition to the relationships between Th17 cells and periodontal disease.