“…Various mechanisms of peripheral host defense have been demonstrated in this epithelium (Schroeder & Listgarten, 1997) (Figure 9): (1) phagocytosis and anti-bacterial activity of neutrophils infiltrating into the junctional epithelium (Yamasaki et al, 1979, Tanaka et al, 1988, (2) outward flow of gingival sulcular fluid through the junctional epithelium (McDougall, 1970;Tanaka, 1984;Tanaka and Sakano, 1987), (3) fast turnover or apoptosis of junctional epithelial cells (Schroeder, 1986, Ekuni et al, 2005, (4) continuous epithelial attachment via the IBL throughout the enamel surface (Squier, 1991;Bartold, et al, 2000), (5) endocytotic capacity of junctional epithelial cells for external pathogens (Yamasaki et al, 1979;Tanaka 1984;Tanaka & Sakano, 1987;Ayasaka et al, 1989, Yamaza et al, 1997, and (6) neurotrophic modulation in the junctional epithelium (Kondo et al, 1995;Tanaka et al, 1996;Kido et al, 1999). Fig.…”