Current status of the host response in chronic marginal periodontitis

Effects of gold salts on experimental periodontitis. II. Cell population characteristics

A previous study showed that the systemic administration of soluble gold salts (gold sodium thiomalate) resulted in significantly less periodontal destruction after 2 weeks of experimentally induced periodontitis. In order to provide information on the possible mechanisms of action of gold salts in the experimental periodontitis situation, the present study analyzed and compared the characteristics of the inflammatory cell populations in animals receiving gold salts with those present in animals which had not received gold salts. Maxillary gingival biopsy specimens were obtained from the buccal aspect of ligatured teeth after 2 weeks of experimental periodontitis. Cell populations were characterized and enumerated, on 1-micron sections, in an epithelial and superficial connective tissue zone, and a deep connective tissue zone. Significantly fewer inflammatory cells were present in experimental (gold receiving) specimens, and this reduction was due primarily to fewer polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNs). No significant reduction occurred in any other inflammatory cell-type. The reduction in number of PMNs in experimental specimens was associated with a decreased number of morphologically altered, degenerating fibroblasts in the connective tissue compared to the PMN-dominated lesion of control specimens. Mechanisms whereby gold salts can reduce chemotaxis and functional capabilities of inflammatory cells are discussed.

Arylsulphatase activity in human gingival crevicular fluid

Arylsulphatase activity in fluid collected from non-inflamed (n = 5), gingivitis (n = 5) and periodontitis (n = 5) subjects was assayed. The mean volume activity for each group was: non-inflamed = 768 +/- 165 nm/ml per h; gingivitis = 2431 +/- 1118 nm/ml per h; periodontitis = 2860 +/- 1839 nm/ml per h. The mean total unit activity for each group was: non-inflamed = 0.326 +/- 0.076 nm; gingivitis = 1.394 +/- 0.411 nm; and periodontitis = 3.571 +/- 1.700 nm. Analysis of fluid from isolated sites in periodontitis suggests that reporting total unit activity (absolute amount of enzyme activity) is more meaningful than reporting volume activity (enzyme concentration) for arylsulphatase activity.

T-cell regulation of polyclonal B-cell activation induced by extracts of oral bacteria associated with periodontal diseases

These studies were designed to examine the role of regulatory T cells in the polyclonal antibody response of human peripheral blood lymphocytes to extracts of bacterial isolates commonly associated with periodontal disease. Polyclonal antibody responses to the organisms tested were found to be T cell dependent, as are most of the B-cell activators in the human system. Functional T helper activity was resistant to 1,500 rads of irradiation. Optimal polyclonal antibody responses to the bacterial extracts occurred at a 3:1 T-cell-to-B-cell ratio, whereas pokeweed mitogen-induced responses peaked at a 1:1 ratio, suggesting a difference in T-cell regulatory influences in response to these activators. Purified populations of T helper and suppressor cells exerted potent regulatory control of the responses to the bacterial extracts. These findings support the conclusion that regulatory T lymphocytes exert a potent modulating influence over the polyclonal response to periodontally associated bacteria and may play an important role in regulating the lymphocyte response in the diseased site.

A simple method for extracting human lymphocyte stimulants from human dental plaque bacteria of the genus Actinomyces

The effect of acid concentration on the hot-acid extraction of antigens from Actinomyces viscosus that stimulate human peripheral blood lymphocytes in vitro was tested. The optimum pH for release of these antigens in a soluble low molecular-weight form was pH 2.3. Preliminary purification on Sepharose 4B demonstrated that most of the lympho-stimulatory material (about 90 per cent) had a mol. wt of about 100,000. This partially-purified antigenic material was mainly protein. The pH 2.3 hot-acid extraction was also suitable for extracting antigens that stimulate cellular immune responses from three strains of Actinomyces naeslundii and 1 strain of Actinomyces israelii, but did not release lympho-stimulatory material from Streptococcus sanguis which is a poor human peripheral-blood lymphocyte-stimulant and was used to demonstrate that the hot-acid extraction is not simply extracting a mitogenic macromolecule common to all bacteria. As good yields of soluble, biologically-active antigens were obtained from all of the Actinomyces, the procedure described will facilitate the purification and characterization of these antigens.

Modulation of in vitro human lymphocyte responses by an exopolysaccharide from Capnocytophaga ochracea

An exopolysaccharide (EP), purified from spent culture fluid previously inoculated with Capnocytophaga ochracea strain 25, suppressed in vitro human peripheral blood lymphocyte responses to the mitogen concanavalin A. EP was suppressive when added to cultures before the mitogen, but enhanced responses when added 24 or 48 hr after the mitogen.

Accelerated periodontal disease in a patient with essential mixed cryoglobulinemia

A 32-year-old woman diagnosed as having Type III essential mixed cryoglobulinemia presented with a history of gingival swelling and hemorrhage. Further clinical findings, in addition to sequential radiographs, revealed the presence of an unusual case of rapidly progressive periodontitis. An association between the presence of cryoglobulinemia and the periodontitis is implicated.

Relationship between proximal tooth open contacts and periodontal disease

ONE HUNDRED FOUR adult subjects (mean age 42.8 years, SD = 16.3 years) with unilateral open contacts were assessed interproximally for periodontal status at both the open and contralateral closed contact. An open contact was defined by unrestricted passage of unwaxed dental floss through the interproximal area. Gingival index, crevicular bleeding, probing depth, attachment level, debris, calculus and tendency for food impaction in each study area were recorded. Less debris was seen at open contacts (P less than 0.001). However, increased probing depth (0.27 mm, P = 0.002) and attachment loss (0.48 mm, P less than 0.001) were found at the open contacts. Small but statistically significant relationships were observed between side to side differences in food impaction and both probing depth (P = 0.005) and attachment level (P = 0.006). Differences in calculus index and attachment level were associated similarly (P = 0.003).

Suppression of murine lymphocyte mitogen responses by exopolysaccharide from Capnocytophaga ochracea

An extracellular polysaccharide was purified from culture supernatants of Capnocytophaga ochracea 25, a gram-negative bacillus associated with human periodontal disease. The extracellular polysaccharide suppressed in vitro mitogenic responses of murine splenic lymphocytes to concanavalin A and lipopolysaccharide. This suppression wad dose dependent, persisted up to 120 h, and was not caused by direct toxicity of the extracellular polysaccharide.