The influence of plasma and serum on the chemotactic response to plaque

The cellular host response in juvenile periodontitis. A review

The current knowledge on the cellular, host-response features in juvenile periodontitis (JP) has been reviewed. The chemotaxis of the polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs), known to be defective in JP, is modulated by serum factors and bacteria. The interactions of the putative etiologic pathogen Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans (A.a.) and the enzyme lysozyme with PMNs modify the host defense. Data on the phagocytic capacity of the peripheral blood and gingival crevice PMNs in JP are still controversial. The monocytes exhibit similar alterations as PMNs in interaction with A.a., but the reports on defective monocyte chemotaxis are conflicting. Both bacterial challenge and genetic factors may regulate the lymphocyte response in JP.

Elevation of a serum component in periodontal disease capable of modulating chemotactic infiltration

Serum from dental patients was examined for its capacity to affect migration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes toward a complement-independent chemotactic factor, bacterial filtrate of Escherichia coli, (BF). Seven subjects with advanced periodontitis, documented with clinical measurements of pocket depth, loss of attachment, indices for gingival inflammation and oral hygiene, were paired with normal subjects of similar age and sex. This study shows that patients whose only apparent clinical symptom was severe periodontal inflammation harbor a heat-stable, serum component which neutralizes factors chemotactic for polymorphonuclear leukocytes. A role for this component in modulation of inflammatory infiltration is discussed.