Periodontal Ligament Fibroblasts Sustain Destructive Immune Modulators of Chronic Periodontitis

Abstract

To our knowledge, these results represent the first biologic evidence that D-PDLFs retain uniquely inflammatory phenotypes that could maintain localized destructive signals in periodontitis. The overexpression of proinflammatory cytokines by PDLFs could amplify local inflammation by the continuous triggering of immune responses. In addition, the location of these cells could be critical in the progression of the inflammatory front into the deeper tissues.