title: Distribution of natural killer cells in periodontal diseases: an immunohistochemical study.
abstract: We studied the distribution and incidence of natural killer (NK) cells in gingiva affected with adult periodontitis (AP) and rapidly progressive periodontitis (RP) with immunohistochemical methods using antibodies Leu-7 and Leu-11b. The incidence of Leu-7 positive cells revealed no significant difference among mild AP, severe AP, and RP. On the other hand, Leu-11b positive cells were frequently found in severe AP and RP. The accumulation of NK cells reacting with Leu-11b in the infiltrated connective tissue was greater in severe forms of periodontal disease (severe AP and RP) than in mild AP. These results suggest that Leu-11b positive NK cells may play a role in the destruction of tissues in periodontal diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, Nagasaki University School of Dentistry, Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fujita
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Okabe
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ozaki
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hara
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kato
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology; D005881:Gingiva / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000473:pathology*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000473:pathology