The proportion of suppressor‐inducer T‐lymphocytes is reduced in recurrent aphthous stomatitis

Abstract

Savage NW, Mahanonda R, Seymour GJ, Bryson GJ, Collins RJ. The proportion of suppressor-inducer T-lymphoeytes is reduced in recurrent aphthous stomatitis. J Oral Pathol 1988: 17: 293-297. A flow cytometric analysis of peripheral blood lymphocytes was undertaken in recurrent aphthous stomatitis patients. The project aimed at detecting differences within lymphocyte subsets using type-specific monoclonal antibodies. Peripheral blood samples were taken from RAS patients in both active and remission phases of the disease and from a group of healthy control subjeets. There were no statistical differences between the active and remission phases within any of the lymphoeyte subsets examined. There was, however, a significant difference between the RAS group and the control group. RAS patients have depressed CD4+ cell numbers and elevated CD8+ cell numbers. The CD4: CD8 ratio is also depressed. A dissection of the CD4+ subset shows raised numbers of CD4+, 4B4+ lymphocytes and depressed numbers of CD4+, 2H4+ lymphocytes. Previous studies have shown disruption of peripheral blood lymphocyte numbers in Behcets syndrome. A similar pattern has now been shown in uncomplicated cases of minor RAS.

Aphthous ulcerations

“…No viruses have been directly isolated from RAS lesions or found using cytology or electron microscopy. However, the increased CD8+ count and the decreased CD4 count during active RAS (26) may, at least partially, support a possible viral etiology, as discussed elsewhere (27).…”

Significant association of deficiencies of hemoglobin, iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid and high homocysteine level with recurrent aphthous stomatitis

“…Although several etiological factors have been proposed, the exact cause underlying RAS remains unclear . Previous investigations have demonstrated alterations of T lymphocytes subsets in RAS patients . Immunohistochemical studies have shown an increased number of CD4+ lymphocytes in the pre‐ulcerative oral aphthous lesions and a predominance of CD8+ lymphocytes in the ulcerative oral aphthous lesions .…”

Immune Response in Patients with Oral Lichen Planus and HCV Infection

“…These alterations mainly regard T CD4+ lymphocytes, in fact it was possible to observe a substantial reduction of "naivesuppressor" CD4+CD45RA+ lymphocytes and an increase of the "memory-helper" CD4+CD45RO+ CD29+ subpopulation in all patients studied. Some Authors found similar alterations in other diseases like Aphthous Recurrent Stomatitis (25), Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) (26), Multiple Sclerosis (MS) (27). However, depression of the "suppressor" activity could be a consequence rather than a cause of these diseases.…”