HNK-1+ (Leu-7) cells and natural killer cell activity in inflamed human gingival tissue.
The presence of HNK-1 (Leu-7)-positive cells and natural killer (NK) cell activity was determined in human periodontal tissues. Gingival tissues obtained from 25 adult patients were processed for analysis utilizing a HNK-1 (Leu-7) mouse monoclonal antibody. A subpopulation of non-adherent lymphoid cells obtained by collagenase digestion of inflamed gingival tissues from 10 patients was examined for the presence of large granular lymphocytes (LGL) by May-Grünwald-Giemsa staining and for NK cell activity against K562 cells by a 51Cr release cytotoxicity assay. HNK-1+ cells were identified in gingival tissue sections of 21 patients, and were present in or close to discrete foci of plasma cells. HNK-1+ cells were scarce in mildly inflamed or uninflamed tissues sections. LGL were identified in 9 of 10 gingival single-cell suspensions and constituted approximately 5% of the gingival cell population. NK cell-mediated cytolysis, at varying effector/target cell ratios, was observed for 3 of 4 enriched gingival mononuclear cell populations. Gamma-interferon (INF-gamma) preincubation of enriched gingival effector cells from 5 additional patients resulted in a 43% increase in NK cell activity. The finding of increased HNK-1+ cells with gingival inflammation suggests that these cells may play a role in tissue damage, as well as in modulation of B cell activity, in gingivae of patients with periodontal disease.
Komiyama
K
K
Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama, Birmingham 35294.
Hirsch
H Z
HZ
Moro
I
I
Umemura
S
S
Mestecky
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D004900:Erythroblasts / Q000502:physiology; D005881:Gingiva / Q000473:pathology*; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000502:physiology*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000473:pathology*; D013194:Staining and Labeling
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007371:Interferon-gamma