Neutrophil chemotactic behaviour in patients with early-onset forms of periodontitis (I). Leading front analysis in Boyden chambers.

Despite some reports to the contrary, it is generally assumed that early-onset forms of periodontal disease (including both juvenile and rapidly progressive periodontitis) are associated with a defect in neutrophil (PMN) chemotactic behaviour. Using the Boyden chamber technique and N-formyl-methionyl-leucylphenylalanine (FMLP) to assess locomotion by the leading front method, we have failed to show any evidence for such depressed PMN locomotion. Indeed, when PMN chemotaxis and chemokinesis are considered in response to a range of chemoattractant doses our results indicate significant enhancement of all but random locomotion. When taken together with other studies, our results suggest that PMNs from patients with early-onset periodontitis may show abnormal locomotory behaviour which can either be enhanced or reduced in nature. The extent to which these results reflect in vitro methodology in uncertain and, furthermore, their in vivo significance is unclear.