Ex vivo studies of polymorphonuclear neutrophils from patients with early‐onset forms of periodontitis (I).

Abstract

The polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) appears to be an important cell in the protection of the host from pathogenic periodontal microorganisms and, despite some reports to the contrary, it is generally assumed that early-onset forms of periodontal disease (including both juvenile and rapidly progressing periodontitis) are associated with a defect in PMN chemotactic behaviour. The purpose of the present study was to examine the peripheral PMN chemotactic behaviour, using the under agarose method, in 4 groups, namely healthy periodontium group (n = 7), gingivitis group (n = 8), early-onset periodontitis group (n = 17) and adult periodontitis group (n = 8). PMN from early-onset periodontitis patients showed normal random and chemotactic locomotory behaviour when compared with those of PMN from subjects of the other groups. No statistically significant difference could be found among the 4 studied groups, with regard to spontaneous and oriented migration.

Altered chemotactic behavior of crevicular PMNs in different forms of periodontitis

“…These authors reported mainly about a reduced chemotactic function in LEOP patients, but others have discussed an enhanced chemotactic response of peripheral blood PMN in these periodontitis forms (Kinane et al 1989, Repo et al 1990). Mouynet et al 1994 did not find any statistically significant differences between gingivitis, early-onset periodontitis and adult periodontitis with regard to PMN chemotaxis function. In the literature, there are only a few studies dealing with PMN chemotaxis of crevicular fluid (CFª) cells (Charon et al 1982, Tufano et al 1992.…”

What exactly distinguishes aggressive from chronic periodontitis: is it mainly a difference in the degree of bacterial invasiveness?

“…Studies in the 1970s found an association between juvenile periodontitis and decreased neutrophil chemotaxis, as assessed on peripheral blood neutrophils . Subsequent studies showed that 72–86% of patients with juvenile periodontitis exhibit decreased neutrophil chemotaxis , but not all studies were able to identify this neutrophil defect . In chronic periodontitis, studies showed either normal or depressed chemotaxis.…”

Comparison of neutrophil functions in aggressive and chronic periodontitis

“…In one comparative study, elevated neutrophil chemotaxis was seen in two of 32 patients with localized aggressive periodontitis and two of eight patients with generalized aggressive periodontitis, compared to ten of 23 patients with chronic periodontitis, a much higher proportion (81). In another study, neutrophils from aggressive periodontitis patients showed normal random migration and chemotaxis when compared with neutrophils from patients with chronic periodontitis or periodontally healthly controls (58). A more recent study examining a panel of neutrophil, cytokine and microbial parameters between various periodontal conditions found no differences in neutrophil chemotaxis, phagocytosis, superoxide production or adhesion in patients with various forms of aggressive periodontitis compared to patients with chronic periodontitis and periodontally healthy controls (78).…”