While the expression of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and IL-17 and receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL) were enhanced in both WT and Gnat3−/− mice (Fig. 3c), the ligature-induced overexpression of these cytokines was markedly higher in Gnat3−/− than in WT mice (Fig. 3c), consistent with Gnat3−/− mice exhibiting much more severe ABL in ligature-induced periodontitis. This evidence concerns the gene IL6 and periodontitis.