In the gingiva of periodontitis patients, the density of immature CD1a+ DCs was higher in individuals with a strong inflammatory cell infiltrate than in those with a mild infiltrate.143 The increase in the number of immature DCs was associated with the initial stage of periodontal disease.143 In addition, Th17 cells and RANKL have been detected in inflamed gingival cells.144,145 However, to date, the presence of gingival OCs from DCs has not been evidenced in periodontitis. The gene discussed is TNFSF11; the disease is periodontitis.