The relationship between T‐helper cell polarization and the RANKL/OPG ratio in gingival tissues from chronic periodontitis patients

Abstract This study aimed to investigate the relationship between inflammation‐related T‐helper cell polarization and the receptor activator for nuclear factor‐κB ligand (RANKL)/osteoprotegerin (OPG) ratio, which is associated with bone resorption or remodeling of chronic periodontitis patients. Gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and gingival tissues were obtained from periodontally healthy individuals (PH group) and chronic periodontitis patients (CP group). The GCF levels of IFN‐γ, IL‐4, IL‐17, and IL‐10 linked to T‐helper cell polarization toward the Th1, Th2, Th17, and Treg phenotypes, respectively, were determined by ELISA. The expression levels of these cytokines and the polarized T‐helper cells in gingival tissues were assessed through immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence assays. In addition, the RANKL and OPG expression levels in gingival tissues were detected by immunohistochemical assays, and linear regression analysis was used to identify the potential relationship between T‐helper cell polarization and the RANKL/OPG ratio. In total, 22 individuals and 35 patients were enrolled in the present study. In both GCF and gingival tissues, increased levels of IL‐17 and the decreased levels of IL‐4 and IL‐10 were observed in the CP group. When polarized T‐helper cells were identified in gingival tissues, more Th1 and Th17 cells were found in the CP group, whereas more Th2 and Treg cells were found in the PH group. Although there was no significant difference in OPG expression between the two groups, the RANKL/OPG ratio in the CP group was higher than that in the PH group. The linear regression analysis showed that the presence of more Th1 and Th17 cells correlated with a higher RANKL/OPG ratio, whereas the presence of more Th2 cells correlated with a lower RANKL/OPG ratio. Th1 and Th17 cells are positively correlated and Th2 cells are negatively correlated with the RANKL/OPG ratio. Our data suggest that T‐helper cell polarization is closely linked to the RANKL/OPG ratio in gingival tissues from chronic periodontitis patients.