Oral Immunology
A PerioWiki Entry
The immune system is intimately involved in causing tissue damage in periodontal disease. Although most periodontal disease begins as a bacterial infection, it is the interaction between bacteria and the immune response that causes a lot of the tissue damage and the clinical signs of periodontal disease. 
As periodontal disease develops, periodontal tissues undergo a variety of changes which is exemplified in Experimental Gingivitis. At first, there is.... Please describe cellular changes in experimental gingivitis here
Key components of the periodontal immune response
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1.a. Gingival epithelium as barrier
1.b. Pathogen detection by epithelium and fibroblasts
1.c. Leukocyte recruitment by endothelium of gingival blood vessels
1.d. Neutrophil structure and function
1.e. Antimicrobial peptides by neutrophils and epithelial cells
1.f. Salivary proteins and their role in controlling oral microflora
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2.a. Dendritic cells in the gingiva and their function
2.b. Macrophage characteristics and their function as antigen-presenting cells
2.c. The role of T-cells in periodontal tissues
2.c.1. Th1 cells: Function and cytokines
2.c.2. Th2 cells: Function and cytokines
2.c.3. Th17 cells: Function and cytokines
2.c.4. Treg cells: Function and cytokines
2.c.5. The Th1/Th2 balance paradigm
2.c.6. A short overview of T-cells activation
2.c.7. A short overview how T-cells activate macrophages
2.c.6. A role for non-Th1/Th2 cells in periodontal disease?
2.d. Antibody production
2.d.1. B-Cells & Plasma cells: structure & function
2.d.2. A short overview on how B-cells are stimulated to produce antibodies
2.d.3. The antibody response to P.gingivalis & A.actinomycetemcomitans
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Attachment and bone loss triggered by the immune system
3.a. Matrix metalloproteinases and tissue destruction
3.b. Pro-inflammatory cytokines
3.c. Prostaglandin synthesis and function
3.d. Bone loss
3.d.1. Osteoblast structure and activating mediators
