Mixed Periodontal Th1-Th2 Cytokine Profile in Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans -Specific Osteoprotegerin Ligand (or RANK-L)- Mediated Alveolar Bone Destruction In Vivo

The Th1/Th2 cytokines involved in human periodontitis remain unclear; therefore, we established a humanized mouse model to investigate this issue in Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans-mediated periodontal infection. Quantitative-PCR analysis clearly demonstrates a predominantly mixed Th1 and Th2 expression profile associated with pathogen-specific cell-mediated immunity via osteoprotegerin ligand (or RANK-L)-mediated alveolar bone destruction in vivo.