Interepithelial lymphocytes in experimental gingivitis in young and elderly individuals

Abstract

Experimental gingivitis was induced and monitored in young and elderly subjects. After

Detachment od cells in vitro with culture fluids from stimulated human mononuclear cells

“…Ihc best (.lenionslration iniplicatinii l>'nipbocytcs in cell separation is their infiltration of tissues which arc composed ol cells possessing specialized areas of adhesidii. Lymphocytes have been observed in intestinal epithelium (Meader & Landers 1967, Toner & Ferguson 1971, in cpithclitini overlying areas in chronic iiillaniniation as in lichen planus (Barnctt 1976) and in the jtinctional epithelium in early periodontal disease (Schroeder 1973, Holthuis et al, 1977, Some lymphocytes inliltratiiig these epithelia show morphological changes that are representative of activation (Toner & Ferguson 1971, Schroeder 1973. Molthtiis ct al, 1977), Yet.…”

Aging—A Call to Arms!

“…However, we have frighteningly little information about how periodontal disease progresses in older age, particularly when there is a wealth of information about changes in the immune response in older people with reductions in T-cell activity and an altered inflammatory response to a specific challenge (Wu and Meydani 2008). Poul Holm-Pedersen illustrated this with artificial gingivitis studies 40 years ago, but we simply don't know how these changes affect periodontal disease activity and progression (Holm-Pedersen et al 1975;Holthuis et al 1977). Again, we assume that the same treatment paradigms are effective in the old compared with the young, but without evidence, we don't even know what are the best or most effective strategies for personal oral hygiene in older people-the trials are all in the young.…”