The mRNA levels of IL-4, IL-10, IL-21, IL-21R, CD40L in the gingival biopsies were evaluated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The salivary levels of IgA and the levels of IL-4 and IL-10 in the gingival biopsies were analyzed by ELISA. The mean levels of

IgA were significantly ABT-263 purchase higher in the chronic periodontitis compared to periodontally healthy group (P < 0.05). The mRNA levels for IL-21 was higher (P < 0.05) in the chronic periodontitis when compared to the healthy group. However, the expression of IL-21R and CD40L did not differ between groups. The IL-10 was significantly elevated at mRNA and protein levels in chronic periodontitis when compared to periodontally healthy group (P < 0.05). Conversely, the mRNA levels as well as the protein amount of IL-4 were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in chronic periodontitis than healthy ones. In conclusion, the upregulation of IL-21 and KU-60019 research buy IL-10 and downregulation of IL-4 in periodontitis tissues may be collectively involved in the increased levels of salivary IgA in chronic periodontitis subjects. The mucosal immune system generates frontline immune protection at the interface between the host and the environment by forming

a highly integrated system of lymphoid organs collectively known as mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue, which play a crucial role in antibody formation [1]. The antibody immunoglobulin (IgA) is the predominant immunoglobulin secreted by oral mucosal sites, considered one of the most important protein contributing to microbial defence from toxins, viruses, and bacteria by means of direct neutralization or prevention of microbial binding to the mucosal surface [2]. Previous studies have long demonstrated that the humoral immune response, especially Cell Penetrating Peptide mediated by secreted IgG and IgA, plays protective role in the pathogenesis of periodontal diseases, including

gingivitis, chronic and aggressive periodontitis. It was previously showed that the levels of salivary IgA directed to Porphyromonas gingivalis and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans were significantly higher in subjects with deeper periodontal probing depth (PD) compared to healthy subjects [3]. Moreover, the serum IgA- and IgG-class antibody levels against A. actinomycetemcomitans and P. gingivalis were higher in the pathogen carriers compared with the non-carriers, and clearly higher in the carriers with periodontal pockets compared with the carriers without pockets [4]. Also, it was reported that the level of specific salivary IgA antibodies against mycobacterial heat shock protein (HSP) 65 was significantly increased in patients with gingivitis compared to healthy and periodontitis subjects [5].