IL1B and infection: Infection of epithelial cells by P. gingivalis activates signaling cascades that control transcription of target genes encoding for immune response and inflammatory reactions such as interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in monocytic and epithelial cells and interferon regulating factor (IRF) 6 in oral epithelial cells [7–9].