Cytokine Profiles in Periodontitis and COVID-19

SARS-CoV-2 is a novel coronavirus that causes an infectious disease named COVID-19. Respiratory distress syndrome and multiple organ failure are the common outcomes of COVID-19 that may finally lead to death. During COVID-19, cytokine storm takes place that is known by the release of notable amounts of pro-inflammatory cytokines including IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-a.

The Hypothesis:

 Periodontal disease are a group of inflammatory diseases in which elevated levels of some cytokine such as IL-1, IL-2, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-a are observed in patients’ serums. Due to the similarity of cytokine expressions in these two diseases, there might be a possible association between COVID-19 and periodontitis, especially the chronic type. Also, genotype polymorphisms of IL-1, IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-a have been proposed to be in association with chronic periodontitis susceptibility.

assessment of these polymorphisms may also play a significant role in detection of these diseases.