The specificity of serum factors in lymphocyte transformation in periodontal disease.

Peripheral blood lymphocytes from patients with periodontal disease were stimulated by sonicates of in the presence of autologous and substituted sera which were either untreated or absorbed with cells. A significant positive correlation was found between the level of lymphocyte stimulation and IgM class of haemagglutinating antibody titres in patients with mild periodontitis (MP) (<0·01) but not in those with gingivitis (G), severe periodontitis (SP) or in the control group (C). Absorption of autologous serum with a suspension of cells resulted in a depression of lymphocyte stimulation by antigen in G or MP patients, but had no effect on lymphocyte stimulation in SP patients. Furthermore, absorption with abolished the stimulating activity of substituted G or MP sera on lymphocyte cultures from SP patients and the inhibitory activity of SP sera on lymphocyte cultures from G or MP patients. Serum absorption was specific, as it did not affect the mitogenic response of lymphocytes to , PPD or PHA. The data is interpreted in terms of modulation of lymphocyte responses by stimulating or inhibitory antibodies.