Various investigations have reported the presence of cytotoxic lymphocyte activity in inflammatory periodontal disease. The collective evidence indicates that the inflammatory infiltrates of gingivitis and periodontitis should feature a major component of large granular lymphocytes (NK-cells) possessing cytotoxic potential. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine and compare, by use of immunohistochemical methods, the numbers of NK-cells in biopsies of clinically healthy gingiva, chronic gingivitis and chronic adult periodontitis and their relationship, if any, to the T- and B-lymphocyte populations. Gingival biopsies were obtained from 8 patients in each of three disease groups selected on the basis of predetermined clinical criteria. Using the avidin-biotin immunoperoxidase technique, four consecutive serial sections from each biopsy specimen were stained with a panel of antihuman monoclonal antibodies for T-lymphocytes (UCHL-1) B-lymphocytes (CD-45R), and NK-cells (Leu-7 and Leu-11b). Analyses of variance yielded a statistically significant main effect for each cell immunophenotype. The Newman-Keuls Sequential Range Test showed statistically significant differences for all but two mean comparisons (p less than 0.01). The comparisons for UCHL-1 and Leu-7 between chronic gingivitis and periodontitis specimens did not demonstrate significance. Although T- and B-lymphocyte populations increased approximately 20 x progressing from healthy to gingivitis to periodontitis specimens, the NK-cell population showed only a 3 x increase which represented 19%, 6.6% and 7% of the total of all positively stained lymphocytes across biopsy groups.
Confusion remains concerning the role of the regional lymph node in the containment of cancer. Numerous investigators using a variety of assays have reported often conflicting results concerning the immunocompetency of lymphocytes residing in regional nodes. Forty-two axillary lymph nodes from ten stage I and stage II breast cancer patients were studied in lymphocyte blast assays using mitogens and breast cancer antigen (BCA). Three general response patterns to BCA were identified which were related primarily to tumor size. In the patients with the smallest primary tumor (0.5 cm), lymphocytes in the nodes reacted to a much greater extent than peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL). In two of three patients with intermediate-size tumor (1.0 to 1.5 cm), a mixed pattern of responses was seen with both stimulation suppression occurring within the nodes of the same patient. In the four patients with the largest tumors (2.0 to 3.0 cm), 15 of 19 nodes had a lower stimulation index (SI) than the corresponding PBL. From the results of this study it appears that regional lymph nodes are dynamic immunologic structures which regress in responsiveness as tumor burden increases.
Lymphocytic infiltration of the primary breast cancer and sinus histiocytosis of the axillary lymph nodes are indications of a favorable prognosis. Similarly, skin test responsiveness such as with DNCB or with tumor extracts correlates in general with stage of disease. This presentation will bring forth preliminary data on cellular immunity of breast cancer patients. Circulating lymphocytes (PBL) were stimulated with mitogens and a breast cancer antigen. PBL from patients with a primary tumor less than 2.4 cm in size reacted as though no immune stimulus existed. PBL from patients with a lump from 2.5 to 5.0 cm in size showed evidence of immune stimulation. An increase in size of the primary tumor over 5 cm and an increase in the number of axillary lymph nodes with metastasis were associaed with a diminution in cellular immunity. However, data from an adjuvant immunotherapy program show that cellular immunity can be improved in certain patients by immunization. Such patients continued to remain disease free, while patients whose cellular immunity was poor or not improved by adjuvant immunotherapy tended to develop recurrent disease.
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