Porphyromonas gingivalis promotes Th17 inducing pathways in chronic periodontitis

► Th17 cells are linked to tissue-destructive inflammation in periodontitis. ► Th17 driving cytokines are abundant in tissues of periodontitis. ► The periodontal pathogen P. gingivalis may orchestrate induction of Th17 pathways. ► P. gingivalis drives production of Th17 not Th1 cytokines. ► P. gingivalis selectively degrades cytokine mediators favoring a Th17 milieu.