Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Phenotypic analyses of mononuclear cells recovered from healthy and diseased human periodontal tissues

  • Original Articles
  • Published:
Journal of Clinical Immunology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Mononuclear cells were recovered from the gingival tissues of normal individuals and from patients with periodontal disease. Lymphocyte phenotypic markers were identified by immunofluorescence after reaction with monoclonal antibodies to T-cell subset markers. The normal tissues exhibited T4/T8 ratios almost identical to those in the peripheral blood. The diseased tissue cell ratios were significantly reduced, in both the adult periodontitis and the juvenile periodontitis groups (P<0.01 andP<0.02, respectively), indicating alterations in the T-cell subset distribution in these tissues. Each diseased patient showed a much decreased T4/T8 ratio in the gingival lymphocytes when these were compared with the peripheral blood ratio from the same patient. The T4/T8 ratios of the more severe sites were significantly lower than those of the less severe sites in the same disease category. The decreases in subset ratios could be attributed to statistically significant reductions in T4+-lymphocyte recoveries relative to peripheral blood and also to slight relative increases in T8+ lymphocytes. A highly significant (P<0.001) correlation between the average probeable periodontal pocket depth and the T4/T8 ratio of each disease category was demonstrated. The relative recoveries of B cells from the various tissues did not differ between diseased and normal tissues. It is suggested that T-cell regulatory expression in gingival tissues is distinct from peripheral blood regulatory expression and that there is a local immunoregulatory imbalance in periodontal disease.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Seymour GJ, Greaves MF: Identification of cells expressing T and p28, 33 (Ia-like) antigens in sections of human chronic inflammatory periodontal disease. J Periodont Res 15:453–461, 1980

    Google Scholar 

  2. Mackler BF, Frostad KB, Robertson FB, Levy BM: Immunoglobulin bearing lymphocytes and plasma cells in human periodontal disease. J Periodont Res 12:37–45, 1977

    Google Scholar 

  3. Gebhard JD, Newman JT, Matthews JL, Hurt WC, Stone MJ: Immunopathology of periodontal disease. II. Immunofluorescent studies on the localized immune response in periodontitis and juvenile periodontitis. J Periodontol 53:239–244, 1982

    Google Scholar 

  4. Seymour GJ, Crouch MS, Powell RN: The phenotypic characterization of lymphoid cell subpopulations in gingivitis in children. J Periodont Res 16:582–592, 1981

    Google Scholar 

  5. Seymour GJ, Crouch MS, Powell RN, Brooks D, Beckman I, Zola N, Bradley J, Bruns GF: The identification of lymphoid cell subpopulations in sections of human lymphoid tissue and gingivitis in children using monoclonal antibodies. J Periodont Res 17:247–256, 1982

    Google Scholar 

  6. Daly CG, Clancy RL, Cripps AW: Lymphocytes from chronically inflamed human gingiva. I. Cell recovery and characterization in vitro. J Periodont Res 18:67–74, 1983

    Google Scholar 

  7. Seymour GJ, Cole KL, Powell RN: Analysis of lymphocyte populations extracted from chronically inflamed human periodontal tissues. I. Identification. J Periodont Res 20:47–57, 1985

    Google Scholar 

  8. Kornman KS, Manti F, Goldschneider T: Peripheral blood lymphocyte populations in ligature-induced periodontitis. J Periodont Res 17:469–471, 1982

    Google Scholar 

  9. Chen P, Park B, Genco RJ: Immunologic profile of patients with juvenile periodontitis. J Dent Res 62:273, 1983 (abstr)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Pazandak DP, Rogers RS III, Reeve CM: T and B lymphocyte distribution in periodontal disease. J Periodontol 49:625–630, 1978

    Google Scholar 

  11. Hardy G, Walker DM, Guest P: Peripheral blood leucocytes with receptors for extracts of dental plaque. II. analysis of the nature of the leucocytes. J Periodont Res 16:188–193, 1979

    Google Scholar 

  12. Socransky SS, Tanner ACR, Haffajee AD, Hillman JD, Goodson JM: Present status of studies on the microbial etiology of periodontal diseases.In Host-Parasite Interactions in Periodontal Diseases, RJ Genco, SE Mergenhagen (eds). Washington, DC, American Society of Microbiology, 1982, pp 1–12

    Google Scholar 

  13. Taubman MA, Stoufi ED, Ebersole JL, Smith DJ: Phenotypic studies of cells from periodontal tissues. J Periodont Res 19:587–590, 1984

    Google Scholar 

  14. Ramfjord SP, Ash MM: Periodontology and Periodontics. Philadelphia, Saunders, 1980, pp 568–599

    Google Scholar 

  15. Ramfjord SP, Nissle RR: The modified Widman flap. J Peridontol 45:601–607, 1974

    Google Scholar 

  16. Ford WL: The preparation and labelling of lymphocytes.In Handbook of Experimental and Clinical Immunology, DM Weir (ed). Oxford, Blackwell Scientific, 1978, pp 23.1–23.22

    Google Scholar 

  17. Stoufi ED, Taubman MA, Ebersole JL, Smith DJ: Preparation and characterization of human gingival cells. J Periodont Res 22 (in press), 1987

  18. Reinherz E, Kung PC, Goldstein G, Schlossman SF: Separation of functional subsets of human T cells by a monoclonal antibody. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 76:4061–4069, 1979

    Google Scholar 

  19. Reinherz EL, Kung PC, Goldstein G, Schlossman S: A monoclonal antibody reactive with the human cytotoxic/suppressor T cell subset previously defined by a heteroantiserum termed TH2. J Immunol 124:1301–1307, 1980

    Google Scholar 

  20. Thomas K, Rogozinski L, Irigoyen OH, Friedman SM, Kung A, Goldstein G, Chess L: Functional analysis of human T cell subsets defined by monoclonal antibodies. IV. Induction of suppressor cells within the OKT4 population. J Exp Med 154:459–467, 1981

    Google Scholar 

  21. Lobo PI, Westervelt FB, Horwitz DA: Identification of two populations of immunoglobulin-bearing lymphocytes in man. J Immunol 114:116–119, 1975

    Google Scholar 

  22. Colton T: Statistics in Medicine, 1st ed. Boston, Little, Brown, 1974, pp 87–96

    Google Scholar 

  23. Engel D, Monzingo S, Rabinovitch P, Clagett J, Stone R: Mitogen-induced hypoproliferation response of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with severe generalized periodontitis: Lack of correlation with proportions of T cells and T-cell subsets. Clin Immunol Immunopathol 30:374–386, 1984

    Google Scholar 

  24. Van Voorhis WC, Kaplan G, Sarno EN, Horowitz MA, Steinman RM, Levis WR, Nojueira N, Hair LS, Gattass CR, Arrick BA, Cohen ZA: The cutaneous infiltrates of leprosy: Cellular characteristics and the predominant T cell phenotypes. N Engl J Med 307:1593–1597, 1982

    Google Scholar 

  25. Hunninghake GW, Crystal RG: Pulmonary sarcoidosis. N Engl J Med 305:429–433, 1981

    Google Scholar 

  26. Janossy G, Duke O, Poulter LW, Panayi G, Bofill M, Goldstein G: Rheumatoid arthritis: A disease of T lymphocyte/macrophage immunoregulation. Lancet 2:839–842, 1981

    Google Scholar 

  27. Taubman MA, Yoshie H, Ebersole JL, Smith DJ, Olson CL: Host response in experimental periodontal disease. J Dent Res 63:455–460, 1984

    Google Scholar 

  28. Yoshie H, Taubman MA, Ebersole JL, Smith DJ, Olson CL: Periodontal bone loss and immune characteristics of congenitally athymic and thymus cell-reconstituted athymic rats. Infect Immun 50:403–408, 1985

    Google Scholar 

  29. Smith S, Bick PH, Miller GA, Ranney RR, Rice PL, Lalor JH, Tew JG: Polyclonal B-cell activation: Severe periodontal disease in young adults. Clin Immunol Immunopathol 16:354–366, 1980

    Google Scholar 

  30. Mangan DF, Lopatin DE: In vitro stimulation of immunoglobulin production from human peripheral blood lymphocytes by a soluble preparation ofActinomyces viscosus. Infect Immun 31:235–244, 1981

    Google Scholar 

  31. Carpenter AB, Sully EC, Ranney RR, Bick PH: T-cell regulation of polyclonal B-cell activation by extracts or oral bacteria associated with periodontal diseases. Infect Immun 43:326–336, 1984

    Google Scholar 

  32. Carpenter AB, Sully EC, Palcanis KG, Bick PH: Role of monocytes in polyclonal immunoglobulin production stimulated by sonicates of periodontally associated bacteria. Infect Immun 42:853–862, 1983

    Google Scholar 

  33. Chen P, Trummel C, Horton J, Baker JJ, Oppenheim JJ: Production of osteoclast activating factor by normal human peripheral blood nonrosetting and rosetting lymphocytes. Eur J Immunol 6:732–736, 1976

    Google Scholar 

  34. Dewhirst FE, Stashenko PP, Mole JE, Tsurumachi T: Purification and partial sequence of human octeoclast-activating factor: identify with interleukin 1β. J Immunol 135:2562–2568, 1985

    Google Scholar 

  35. Benacerraf B, Green HI, Sy MA, Dorf ME: Suppressor T cell circuits. Ann NY Acad Sci 392:300–308, 1982

    Google Scholar 

  36. Taubman MA, Eastcott JW, Ebersole JL, Smith DJ: Adoptive transfer of T-cell subsets and experimental periodontal disease. J Dent Res 64:260, 1985

    Google Scholar 

  37. Dickler HB, Kunkel HG: Interaction of aggregated γ-globulin with B lymphocytes. J Exp Med 136:191–196, 1972

    Google Scholar 

  38. Cole KL, Seymour GJ, Powell RN: The autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction (AMLR) using periodontal lymphocytes. J Dent Res 65:473–477, 1986

    Google Scholar 

  39. Johannessen AC, Nilsen R, Knudsen GE, Kristoffersen T: In situ characterization of mononuclear cells in human chronic marginal periodontitis using monoclonal antibodies. J Periodont Res 21:113–127, 1986

    Google Scholar 

  40. Taubman MA, Stoufi ED, Smith DJ, Ebersole JL: Immunoregulation in periodontal disease.In Borderland Between Caries and Periodontal Disease, G Cimasoni, T Lehner (eds). Geneva, Medicine & Hygiene, 1986, pp. 73–83

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Immunology, Forsyth Dental Center, 02115, Boston, Massachusetts

    Eleana D. Stoufi, Martin A. Taubman, Jeffrey L. Ebersole, Daniel J. Smith & Philip P. Stashenko

  2. Department of Oral Pathology, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts

    Eleana D. Stoufi

Authors
  1. Eleana D. Stoufi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Martin A. Taubman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jeffrey L. Ebersole
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Daniel J. Smith
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Philip P. Stashenko
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Stoufi, E.D., Taubman, M.A., Ebersole, J.L. et al. Phenotypic analyses of mononuclear cells recovered from healthy and diseased human periodontal tissues. J Clin Immunol 7, 235–245 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00915729

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00915729

Key words

Search

Navigation