A comparison of T4:T8 lymphocyte ratio in the periodontal lesion of healthy and HIV-positive patients.
Previous reports describe a characteristic, rapidly progressive, periodontitis that is unique to patients who are seropositive for HIV antibody (Western blot +). The purpose of this study was to compare the T4 and T8 lymphocyte subpopulations in the peripheral blood and periodontal lesions of these HIV patients with those of healthy controls. T-cell subsets in peripheral blood were quantified by flow cytometry. The values from this analysis were used to calculate the peripheral T4:T8 lymphocyte ratio for each patient. Gingival tissue (papilla) was obtained from 8 HIV+ patients and from 6 healthy HIV- control patients during routine gingival surgery. The T-cell subpopulations in the gingival tissue were determined using serial cryostat sections that were labeled with monoclonal antibodies for T4 and T8 cells and developed using an avidin-biotin-peroxidase system. Six sections were taken from each of the 14 tissue specimens (one per patient). The sections were examined at 450 x and the mean number of T4 and T8 cells calculated for each section. These mean values were then used to determine the T4:T8 lymphocyte ratio for each tissue specimen. The peripheral blood analysis revealed a mean serum T4:T8 ratio of (2.07 +/- 0.455) for the controls and (0.58 +/- 0.26) for the HIV patients. The significantly lower T4:T8 ratio in HIV patients is consistent with their diagnosis. Although the results indicated that the mean T4:T8 lymphocyte ratio in the gingiva of controls was highly variable (2.70 +/- 1.344), the gingiva of HIV patients consistently exhibited a complete absence of T-cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Steidley
K E
KE
U.S. Army, Ft. Gordon, GA.
Thompson
S H
SH
McQuade
M J
MJ
Strong
S L
SL
Scheidt
M J
MJ
Van Dyke
T E
TE
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000473:pathology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000473:pathology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000473:pathology