Objectives: The immune system has an important role in the development of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and chronic periodontitis (CP). Altered cytokines levels characterise both diseases and contributes to periodontal tissue damage in CP and to macrocomplexes deposition with connective tissue destruction in SLE. This study aimed to evaluate the production of salivary cytokines in patients with SLE and its association with periodontal status.
Methods: The sample comprised 70 SLE patients and 70 paired controls. SLE activity and damage were scored using Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index 2000 and Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage Index. Subjects were classified as without or with CP. Salivary concentrations of IL-33, MMP2/TIMP2, RANK and OPG were measured by ELISA, while IL-2, IFNγ, TNFα, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-17A were determined by Cytometric Bead Array. Linear regression models analysed association among SLE, CP and salivary cytokines.
Results: IL-6 and IL-17A concentrations were significantly higher in SLE/CP patients than controls/CP. Concentrations of IL-6, IL-17A and IL-33 were increased in SLE/CP individuals when compared to SLE without CP. Multivariate model revealed association of cumulative dose of corticoids with periodontal damage and of IL-33 salivary concentration with SLE activity.
Conclusions: Our findings suggest that long-term therapy with corticoids would contribute with periodontal destruction in SLE patients. Moreover, the increased levels of IL-6, IL-17A and IL-33 in saliva of SLE subjects with CP may signal it as possible inflammatory pathways in this process.