B-1a cells and plasma cells in periodontitis lesions.
OBJECTIVE
Host response mechanisms in periodontal tissues are complex and involve numerous systems of interactions between cells. The B-cell lineage seems to predominate in chronic periodontitis lesions. The aim of the present investigation was to study the correlation between inflammatory cells and some functional markers in gingival lesions obtained from subjects with severe chronic periodontitis.


METHODS
Thirty-eight Caucasian subjects volunteered to take part in the study. A gingival biopsy from one randomly selected diseased proximal site (probing pocket depth > 6 mm and bleeding on probing positive) was obtained from each patient. Immunohistochemical preparation was used to identify inflammatory cells and functional markers. Correlations between the different percentages of cell markers were analyzed by pairwise correlation.


RESULTS
B cells (B-1a and B-2 cells) occurred in larger proportions than T cells and plasma cells. A statistically significant correlation was found between the percentage of B-1a cells and plasma cells and between all B lymphocytes and plasma cells. About 60% of B lymphocytes exhibited autoreactive features.


CONCLUSIONS
It is suggested that B-1a cells constitute a significant part of the host response in periodontitis lesions and that plasma cells may develop from both B-2 and B-1a cells.
Donati
M
M
Department of Periodontology, Sahlgrenska Academy at Göteborg University, Göteborg, Sweden. mauro.donati@odontologi.gu.se
Liljenberg
B
B
Zitzmann
N U
NU
Berglundh
T
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000473:pathology; D018941:Antigens, CD19 / Q000032:analysis; D016175:B-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000473:pathology*; D001706:Biopsy; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D018956:CD5 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D055113:Chronic Periodontitis / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005881:Gingiva / Q000473:pathology; D005884:Gingival Hemorrhage / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors / Q000032:analysis; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase / Q000032:analysis; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000473:pathology; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000032:analysis; D053668:Syndecan-1 / Q000032:analysis; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000473:pathology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000473:pathology
D018941:Antigens, CD19; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D018956:CD5 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D053668:Syndecan-1; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase