Betacellulin in chronic periodontitis - an immunohistochemical study

A common consequence of the inflammatory response to bacterial dental plaque is periodontal disease which promotes the progressive destruction of periodontal tissues. Bacteria produce proteolytic enzymes that damage the periodontal tissue but this activity is not sufficient to cause periodontal disease. It is believed that the host immune response to bacterial dental plaque and its products determines disease susceptibility by increasing the secretion of inflammatory cytokines. Degradation of periodontal tissue seems to result from the uncontrolled release of chemokines and/or proteases in addition to their activators and inhibitors by resident cells in the proximity of the infection or by recruited inflammatory cells.