title: Comparison of NK-cell (Leu-7+ and Leu-11b+) populations in clinically healthy gingiva, chronic gingivitis and chronic adult periodontitis.
abstract: Various investigations have reported the presence of cytotoxic lymphocyte activity in inflammatory periodontal disease. The collective evidence indicates that the inflammatory infiltrates of gingivitis and periodontitis should feature a major component of large granular lymphocytes (NK-cells) possessing cytotoxic potential. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine and compare, by use of immunohistochemical methods, the numbers of NK-cells in biopsies of clinically healthy gingiva, chronic gingivitis and chronic adult periodontitis and their relationship, if any, to the T- and B-lymphocyte populations. Gingival biopsies were obtained from 8 patients in each of three disease groups selected on the basis of predetermined clinical criteria. Using the avidin-biotin immunoperoxidase technique, four consecutive serial sections from each biopsy specimen were stained with a panel of antihuman monoclonal antibodies for T-lymphocytes (UCHL-1) B-lymphocytes (CD-45R), and NK-cells (Leu-7 and Leu-11b). Analyses of variance yielded a statistically significant main effect for each cell immunophenotype. The Newman-Keuls Sequential Range Test showed statistically significant differences for all but two mean comparisons (p less than 0.01). The comparisons for UCHL-1 and Leu-7 between chronic gingivitis and periodontitis specimens did not demonstrate significance. Although T- and B-lymphocyte populations increased approximately 20 x progressing from healthy to gingivitis to periodontitis specimens, the NK-cell population showed only a 3 x increase which represented 19%, 6.6% and 7% of the total of all positively stained lymphocytes across biopsy groups.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Cobb
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Singla
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Feil
authors.forename: F C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Theisen
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Schultz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005881:Gingiva / Q000166:cytology*; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000145:classification* / Q000473:pathology; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000473:pathology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology