title: Localization of interleukin-8 in human gingival tissues.
abstract: Periodontitis and gingivitis are chronic inflammatory diseases of the periodontium and adjacent tissues. This site-specific inflammation is characterized by a local infiltration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and T lymphocytes. Interleukin-8 is a low molecular-weight cytokine that is thought to be responsible for the induction and maintenance of localized inflammation. We hypothesized that locally produced interleukin-8 plays a central role in chronic inflammation of periodontitis by regulating the recruitment and activation of leukocytes in the gingival tissues. To test this hypothesis, we determined whether the interleukin-8 antigen is present locally and is cell-associated. Inflamed and control tissues were analyzed: 1) for the interleukin-8 antigen; 2) by molecular weight; 3) for location; and 4) for the messenger RNA (mRNA) of interleukin-8. The conclusions from these data were that: 1) interleukin-8 antigen and mRNA was elevated in chronically inflamed gingiva; and 2) the major interleukin-8 antigen was detected only in the epithelial cell layer. These results support that interleukin-8 may play a crucial role in the recruitment and activation of neutrophils and T lymphocytes in periodontitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, USA.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Fitzgerald
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Kreutzer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001666:Binding Sites, Antibody; D002645:Chickens; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000276:immunology; D004846:Epithelial Attachment / Q000276:immunology; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D004848:Epithelium / Q000276:immunology; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000276:immunology; D005881:Gingiva / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D008970:Molecular Weight; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
chemical_list: D016209:Interleukin-8; D012333:RNA, Messenger