Lymphocyte blastogenesis to plaque antigens in human periodontal disease. II. The relationship to clinical parameters

Abstract

This study undertook to correlate lymphocyte transformation to human dental plaque antigens with clinical estimates of periodontal disease. 48 patients with periodontal conditions ranging from normal gingivae to severe periodontitis were examined clinically. Oral cleanliness was determined by the Plaque Index System and gingival health was assessed using the criteria of the Gingival Index System. Pocket depth and loss of periodontal attachment from the cementoenamel junction were also measured. Triplicate microcultures of peripheral blood lymphocytes were stimulated with four different concentrations of human plaque antigens. The uptake of 3H-thymidine during blastogenesis was measured by liquid scintillation counting. There was no correlation between the stimulation by most of the isolated plaque antigens or pooled plaque and the periodontal conditions as determined by plaque index, gingival index, pocket depth and loss of attachment. However, there was a significant, although low, correlation between clinical parameters and the stimulation of peripheral blood lymphocytes by B. melaninogenicus and A. viscosus. Stimulation with B. melaninogenicus correlated more highly with pocket depth and loss of attachment, while stimulation with A. viscosus and A. naeslundii correlated more highly with plaque and gingivitis scores. The possible role of these organisms in the pathogenesis of periodontal disease involving cellular immunity was discussed as was the interpretation of data obtained in blastogenesis using peripheral blood lymphocytes and its relevance to the local phenomenon of delayed hypersensitivity.