RUNX2 and periodontitis: Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of green tea on the spontaneous onset of diabetes-triggered periodontitis based on the quantitative and spatial evaluation of TNF-α, RANKL, IL-10, runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX-2), and osteoprotegerin (OPG) immunostaining patterns, as well as assessment of the oral microbiotic load, in the periodontal tissues of rats at 15, 30, 60 and 90 days after diabetes induction.