Periodontitis is a common and frequently encountered disease. However, its mechanism is remain unclear. Apoptosis is triggered by special signaling molecules and is a highly regulated form of programmed cell death under control of genes. A larger number of studies approve that apoptosis plays an important role in the progress of periodontitis. Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, one of the main pathogenic bacteria of periodontitis produces several virluence factors. The relationship between virluence factors of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and apoptosis, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and a variety of cells in periodontal tissue was reviewed.
