High numbers of T cells in gingiva from patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.
A quantitative, immunohistologic evaluation of CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ cells was carried out on gingival biopsies from 25 HIV-infected persons with gingivitis or periodontitis and 13 HIV-seronegative persons with periodontitis. CD3+ T cells were found in all biopsies. CD8+ cells were significantly more numerous and the CD4+/CD8+ ratio was significantly decreased in the gingival connective tissue of the HIV+ patients (p < 0.05). The number of CD4+ lymphocytes subjacent to the pocket epithelium was moderately lower in the HIV+ patients as compared to the HIV patients (p < 0.05). HIV+ patients with a history of necrotizing periodontal disease had fewer CD4+ cells subjacent to the oral gingival epithelium than patients without such disease (p < 0.05). The general HIV-related changes in T lymphocyte numbers were therefore reflected in inflamed gingival tissues. HIV+ patients had, however, significantly higher CD4+/CD8+ ratios in gingiva than in peripheral blood (p < 0.05), indicating that CD4+ T cells are actively recruited to gingiva, even in cases of extreme CD4+ T lymphocytopenia.
Department of Oral Biology, Dental Faculty, University of Oslo, Norway.
K
K
Odden
K
K
Schenck
B
B
Hurlen
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001706:Biopsy; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000473:pathology; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005881:Gingiva / Q000473:pathology*; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000473:pathology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D018023:HIV Seronegativity; D006801:Humans; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008231:Lymphopenia / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000473:pathology; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000473:pathology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000473:pathology
D000998:Antiviral Agents