Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, October-December 2019, Vol. 13, No. 4 1931 Cytokines: The Double Edge Sword for Periodontal Disease Saurav Panda 1 , Sital Panda 2 , Abhaya Chandra Das 3 1 Associate Professor, Department of Periodontics and Oral Implantology, Institute of Dental Sciences, Siksha O Anusandhan (Deemed to be University), 2 MPH Student, Department of Public Health, Regional Medical Research Centre, Chandrasekhar, 3 Associate Professor Department of Periodontics and Oral Implantology, Institute of Dental Sciences, Siksha O Anusandhan (Deemed to be University), Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India Abstract Cytokines play a major role in pathogenesis of periodontal disease. These chemical mediators act as inter and intra-cellular signaling for stimulating various cells to carry out diferent range of functions. These cytokines also help in mediating infammatory responses, stimulating development of certain immune cells and also aid in hematopoiesis of immune cells, macrophages and platelets. The intricate mechanism of cell – signaling through cytokines also forms the basis of pathogenesis of periodontal disease. Better understanding of various cytokines, its receptors and function could beneft us in designing therapeutic aids for prevention and management of periodontal disease. Keywords: Cytokines; Periodontal Diseases; Immune system; Interleukins; infammatory responses. Corresponding Author: Saurav Panda Associate Professor, Department of Periodontics and Oral Implantology, Institute of Dental Sciences, Siksha O Anusandhan (Deemed to be University), Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India e-mail: drsaurav87@gmail.com Introduction Periodontitis is defned as chronic infammatory disease, which is microbial in nature, afecting the supporting structures of the teeth and characterized by formation of periodontal pocket, loss of attachment and alveolar bone loss. 1 The primary etiology of periodontal disease is microbial, primarily presence of bacteria and its noxious byproducts accumulated in form of plaque and calculus. 2,3 The pathogenesis of periodontal disease and its initiation is thought to be bi-directional. The host response to this bacterial insult contribute to destruction of periodontium by formation of certain infammatory mediators. These infammatory mediators are released due to activation of leucocytes, and these are collectively termed as cytokines. Cytokines can be defned as mediator molecules, which direct and regulate infammation and wound healing. The term cytokine meaning the cell protein is reserved for molecules, which transmit information or signals from one cell to another. It is part of a fundamental cell-to-cell communication network. 4 cytokines are small soluble proteins produced by a cell that alters the behavior or properties of another cell, locally or systemically. 5 Cytokines are considered as a diverse group of protein involved in inter-cellular signaling and take part in various biologic processes like wound healing, homeostasis etc. They are structurally dissimilar and genetically unique, with of molecular weight 6000- 60000kDa. Over 100s of cytokines have been identifed so far. These mediators are released by endothelial lining cells, fbroblasts, neutrophils and lymphocytes (immune cells). They play a pivotal role in immune mechanism and regulate various infammatory reactions. They also link the innate immune processes to adaptive one in our body immune system. Their mechanism of action is autocrine in nature, meaning it stimulates the same cells from which they are secreted. They also are known to stimulate other cells in proximity, owing to its paracrine efect. And also move freely in the circulation, and interact with immune cells at a farther distance from origin, suggesting its endocrine efect. 6 10.5958/0973-9130.2019.00603.0