HOST-MODULATION – THE PATH TOWARDS THE FUTURE IN PERIODONTAL THERAPY

Dr. Shivaprasad, *Dr. Samjotha Dharma and Dr. Parimala Kumar

ABSTRACT

Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease resulting in the destruction of the periodontal apparatus affecting a very wide range of population all over the world. The pathologic periodontal bacteria contribute to the initiation of periodontitis and its progression is regulated by interactions between the host immune response and bacterial factors. During this interaction, inflammation process is driven by the inflammatory mediators which comprise of connected group of cytokines and chemokines that are released continuously by various immune cells. When these mediators exceed or are produced for a longer duration can lead to host tissue destruction. Hence, host modulation aims at bringing these enzymes and mediators to normal level and prevent further tissue damage. This article enumerates the various host factors, microbial virulence factors, host-mediated inflammatory mediators and their respective target drugs which help in the resolution of the inflammatory processes and also the future therapeutics that would act as targets against the periodontal disease.

Keywords: Antibiotics, Anti-cytokine, Cytokines, Host-modulation, Interleukin.