Functional integrity of gingival crevicular neutrophil polymorphonuclear leucocytes as demonstrated by nitroblue tetrazolium reduction

Abstract

Gingival crevicular neutrophils were collected from 20 healthy subjects and their ability to reduce nitroblue tetrazolium was investigated by means of a semi‐quantitative histochemical test. 78.04 % (± s.e.m. 0.8 %) of the cells were vital. 42.9 % (± s.e.m. 3.3 %) of the crevice neutrophils were NBT positive as compared to 5.6% (± s.e.m. 0.89%) of unstimulated peripheral venous blood neutrophils from the same patients (p < 0.001). No difference between male and female was found. The results indicate a stimulation of crevicular neutrophils by bacteria. Furthermore, a slight correlation between blood and crevicular neutrophil activity in each individual was found, suggesting that even in the normal state some antigen or other bacterial product in the circulation is capable of stimulating the neutrophils. One patient with hereditary cyclical neutropenia, shown to have a greatly reduced number of crevicular cells, had normal activity of both blood and crevicular neutrophils as measured by this test. These findings, compatible with known immunological results, are compared with the neutrophil function test results in this patient and two other neutropenic subjects. This study supports the view that the gingival crevicular neutrophil is a functional cell capable of contributing towards host defense.

An in vitro study of neutrophils obtained from the normal gingival sulcus

“…We found that a high percentage (70%) of the unstimulated crevicular PMN reduced NBT as compared to only 16.3% of the unstimulated peripheral blood PMN. This result is in agreement with the findings of Kowolik and Raeburn (1980) who reported a larger percentage of NBT positive cells among crevicular PMN than among peripheral blood PMN. The most probable explanation for the differences between crevicular and peripheral blood PMN NBT reduction is that the crevicuiar PMN are stimulated as a consequence of emigration from the blood stream and/or by previous in vivo phagocytosis of gingival bacteria (Repine et al 1974).…”

“…1977a, Wilton, Renggli & Lehner 1977b. Murray & Patters 1980, Kowolik & Raeburn 1980). many of their functions have not been comprehensively investigated.…”

A New Method for Isolation of Salivary Neutrophils and Determination of Their Functional Activity

“…The probable explanation for this difference between SPMNs and BPMNs is that the SPMNs were exposed previously to bacteria and bacterial products in the oral cavity; thus, they demonstrate high levels of H202, and even higher levels after stimulation by FMLP. Our results are in agreement with those of other studies that have shown that the intracellular bactericidal activity of GPMNs is intact (Charon ct at., 1982;Kowolik and Raeburn, 1980;Loesche et al, 1988;and Wilton et al, 1977a). However, Scully (1982) has shown decreased bactericidal activity of SPMNs compared with BPMNs and GPMNs when the cells were incubated with serum, but no difference when the cells were incubated in HBSS.…”

“…GPMNs have been comprehensively investigated (Newman and Addison, 1982;Murray and Patters, 1980;Charon et al, 1982;Fanger et al, 1983;Kowolik and Raeburn, 1980;Loesche et al, 1988;Wilton et al, 1977a,b;Scully and Wilkinson, 1985), although our knowledge on SPMNs is limited and controversies exist with regard to their functions and significance. A major factor contributing to these conflicting results has been the lack of uniformity in the techniques used to collect SPMNs.…”

Plaque‐host imbalance in severe periodontitis

“…Even though many neutrophiis may be present in a periodontal pocket, the rapid advance of disease in periodontosis patients may still be due largely to a deficiency in PMN response, in view of their low viability and inability to phagocytose test organisms (Newman & Addison 1982). This may be apparent more clearly with peripheral blood than with GC-PMN (Kowolik & Raeburn 1980, Murray & Patters 1980, ScuUy 1980, Van Dyke et ai. 1980.…”