Periodontal inflammation can upregulate proinflammatory cytokines such as IL‐6 and IL‐1b, leading to elevated visfatin expression in periodontal tissues. Visfatin may play a role in the pathogenesis of periodontitis by promoting the upregulation of matrix metalloproteinase‐1 and chemokine CC‐motif ligand 2 in periodontal ligament cells. This evidence concerns the gene IL6 and periodontitis.