IL-17RA^KO mice exhibit enhanced alveolar bone loss in response to P gingivalis infection. (A-B) WT and IL-17RA^KO mice (n = 6-8) were infected with Pg or sham-infected. Alveolar bone destruction was assessed after 6 weeks by measuring the distance from the ABC to the CEJ at 14 maxillary buccal sites per mouse (R1-R7 = right jaw; L1-L7 = left jaw). Standard deviations are shown. Data were analyzed by a Mann-Whitney unpaired t test, and statistically significant differences of Pg-infected compared with sham-infected for each buccal site are indicated with an asterisk (P < .05). (C) Net bone loss averaged over all buccal sites for WT and IL-17RA^KO mice, with standard deviations. (D) Representative bone loss measurements from IL-17RA^KO sham-infected (C) and Pg-infected (D) maxillary jaws that were stained with methylene blue. Images were acquired with a Nikon SMZ 1000 microscope, magnification ×3. Buccal sites (1-7) are indicated in yellow, and specific ABC/CEJ distance measurements are indicated in boxes.