Th17/Treg细胞在牙周炎与动脉粥样硬化发病中的作用及牙周干预治疗的相关研究

The functions of Th17/Treg cells and relevant studies on the treatment of periodontitis and atherosclerosis

牙周炎是由牙菌斑生物膜引起的牙周组织丧失的慢性感染性疾病。动脉粥样硬化是以脂质堆积为特征,发生在动脉壁的慢性炎症性疾病。近年来大量研究表明牙周炎和动脉粥样硬化之间存在一定的联系。从流行病学角度分析,发现牙周炎患者的动脉粥样硬化发病率更高;Th17分泌的白细胞介素17(interleu⁃kin⁃17,IL⁃17)通过促使基质金属蛋白酶含量升高,破坏结缔组织,加重两种疾病的进展;Treg细胞通过分泌抑炎因子和表达共抑制因子,降低T细胞活化,限制炎症发展;通过牙周干预治疗可以降低动脉粥样硬化中炎症标记物,有助于动脉粥样硬化的治疗。虽然多项研究结果表明牙周炎和动脉粥样硬化两者可相互影响,但仍需进一步的研究来明确牙周炎和动脉粥样硬化之间相互作用的具体机制。

Periodontitis is a chronic infectious disease in which periodontal tissue loss is caused by dental plaque bio⁃film.Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease that occurs in the walls of arteries and is characterized by lipid accumulation.Recently,many studies have suggested that there is a certain relationship between periodontitis and ath⁃erosclerosis.From an epidemiological perspective,a previous literature review indicated that patients with periodontitis have a higher incidence of atherosclerosis.IL⁃17 secreted by Th17 cells may aggravate the progression of the two diseas⁃es by elevating the levels of matrix metalloproteinases,which may damage the connective tissue.Treg cells reduce the activation of T cells and limit the development of inflammation by secreting anti⁃inflammatory factors and expressing co⁃inhibitory molecules.Periodontal intervention may contribute to the treatment of atherosclerosis by reducing inflammato⁃ry markers in atherosclerosis.Many studies have shown that periodontitis and atherosclerosis may interact with each oth⁃er,but further studies are needed to explore the concrete mechanism of the interaction between periodontitis and athero⁃sclerosis.