Denture stomatitis: quantification of interleukin-2 production by mononuclear blood cells cultured with Candida albicans

Denture stomatitis is usually associated with the presence of yeast, particularly Candida albicans, and several bacteria. In this study mononuclear blood cells were grown in the presence of Candida albicans from a single colony, and interleukin-2 production induced in T lymphocytes was measured. Blood cells were from a population of patients with denture stomatitis and a control group of denture wearers without stomatitis. Induction of interleukin-2 production was correlated with factors that condition denture stomatitis, namely, isolation of Candida albicans in selective medium, age of the denture, and diabetes. Concentrations of interleukin-2 in supernatant and serum were also compared. Significant differences in interleukin-2 production were found between patients with denture stomatitis and controls. Statistical analysis demonstrated a significant association between isolation of Candida albicans and elevated interleukin-2 production in cultures from patients with and without denture stomatitis.

Induction of interleukin-1 alpha production by Porphyromonas gingivalis in mononuclear blood cell cultures from periodontitis patients

The capacity of mononuclear blood cells to produce interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) after stimulation with Porphyromonas gingivalis in cell culture was studied. The results obtained with cells from periodontitis patients were compared with those from a control population. The concentration of IL-1 alpha in serum and saliva was also determined and compared with the concentration in mononuclear blood cell cultures. No significant relationship was found between the incidence of periodontitis or severity of the lesions and IL-1 alpha production in the presence of P. gingivalis. Nevertheless, 11 of 30 periodontitis patients, showed levels > 30 pg/ml of IL-1 alpha in mononuclear blood cell cultures stimulated by P. gingivalis, whereas only three healthy control showed these titers of IL-1 alpha.