Figure 1.

Diagrammatic illustration depicting pathogenicity of periodontitis and the interplay of cytokines involved. Pathogenicity of locally present microbiota is enhanced by the colonization of pathogens, thereby over activating the immune response and triggering tissue destructions. (A) The first wave of cytokine secretions that takes part in amplifying the pro-inflammatory cytokine cascade and aid in recruitment, activation, and differentiation of specific immune cells is shown. (B) Additionally, a group of cytokines closely correlated to differentiation of a specific subset of lymphocytes are secreted by mononuclear phagocytes and antigen presenting cells after stimulation by microbiome. (C) Each of these cells releases a certain pattern of cytokines which might act as the positive feedback loop, finally leading to destruction of the tissue.