We conclude that laminin 5 may play a role in the formation of the basal lamina formation by epithelial cells in periodontitis lesions in which TNF-α is strongly increased and that the observed TNF-α-driven increase of laminin 5 may indicate enhanced epithelial cell adhesion to the tooth and increased cell migration, processes that protect periodontal tissues affected by inflammatory lesions. The gene discussed is TNF; the disease is periodontitis.