Activated lymphocyte subsets in adult periodontitis*

Abstract

The activation state of T and B lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of periodontitis patients may be a reflection of disease activity. We have utilized 2- and 3-color flow cytometric analyses using a new chromophore, peridinin chlorophyll A protein, and conventional dyes, fluorescein isothiocyanate and phycoerythrin, conjugated to monoclonal antibodies against activated lymphocyte surface markers to measure blood lymphocyte subsets from 18 periodontitis patients and 16 periodontally healthy control subjects. Two-color flow cytometric analysis demonstrated that the frequency of CD4+ and CD5+ T cells, CD20+ B cells, and CD16+ NK (natural killer) cells were increased in periodontitis patients. Of particular interest, CD4+ activated "memory" T cells, CD5+ B cells, and CD56+ NK effector cells were increased significantly in periodontitis patients (p less than 0.05). While the relationship of lymphocyte activation to periodontal disease activity remains unclear, there may be potential for using 2- and 3-color flow cytometry to subcategorize periodontitis patients into high- and moderate-risk groups.

Cell-Mediated Immune System Regulation in Periodontal Diseases

“…If juvenile periodontitis (IP) and rapidly progressive periopresent, an elevated CD4:CD8 ratio may be attributable dontitis (RPP) (Kinane et al, 1989), others have found this to a decrease in the number of CD8+ cells (Nagasawa et ratio to be elevated relative to healthy controls (Katz et al, 1995;Takahashi etal., 1995), although again this is not a consistent finding (Celenligil et al, 1990a;Afar et al, 1992). The conflicting results from these studies may be due to the large variability of the values within patient groups (Katz et al, 1988;Takahashi et al, 1995 (Mahanonda et al, 1989(Mahanonda et al, , 1991.…”

“…Surface lipopolysaccharides from Gram-negative periodontal bacteria appear to provide the major activation signal for NK-cell-mediated cytotoxicity (Lindemann, 1988 CD45RO and CD45RA expression is seen on approximately 60% and 40%, respectively, of CD4+ cells in the peripheral blood of periodontally healthy subjects (Gemmell et al, 1992). Overall, the numbers of nafve and memory cells in peripheral blood appear to be similar in patients with adult chronic periodontitis and healthy controls (Afar et al, 1992). The frequency of memory Tcells (CD4+ CD45RO+), however, is significantly elevated in these patients.…”

“…The percent or proportion of activated lymphocytes and T-cells in peripheral blood tends to be higher in periodontitis patients compared with healthy controls (Zafiropoulos et al, 1990;Afar et al, 1992), although others have found similar values in patients and controls (Okada et al, 1984). When differences are seen, the variability within patients and control groups mitigates the usefulness of this measure as a reliable means of distinguishing between health and disease.…”

“…It has been suggested that y8+ cells defend against bacterial invasion in the gingiva by destroying stressed or infected epithelial cells (Lundqvist et al, 1994). Regulation of the immune response by 8+ cells may be more important in the initial or acute lesion (Kawahara et al, 1995) The number of NK cells in peripheral blood has been reportedly increased in patients with IP, RPP, and adult forms (AP) of disease (Kopp, 1988;Celenligil, 1990a;Afar et al, 1992). Others, however, have found no differences between patients and healthy controls (Zafiropoulos et al, 1990).…”

(-)-Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate Inhibits CC Chemokine Ligand 11 Production in Human Gingival Fibroblasts

“…Host immune responses have been suggested to play a key role in periodontal diseases [1,2]. T and B lymphocytes appear to be prominent in chronic periodontal lesions in humans [3,4]. Th2 cells have been focused on the etiology of periodontal disease.…”