Inflammatory cells and their subsets in lesions of juvenile periodontitis. A family study.

The inflammatory cells in the gingival biopsy samples from a total of 9 patients with juvenile periodontitis (JP) and from 10 of their family members (JPrelat) belonging to 5 different families were subjected to phenotypic characterization. Plasma cells and their immunoglobulins were stained with immunoperoxidase kits for IgA, IgG, and IgM. B, T, and MPS (cells of the mononuclear phagocyte system) cells were demonstrated by the alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase (ANAE) technique in cryostat sections. The subsets (T helper/inducer and T suppressor/cytotoxic cells) of T cells were detected with monoclonal antibodies OKT4 and OKT8, respectively, using indirect immunofluorescence. Similar studies were completed for 19 age- and sex-matched periodontally healthy subjects. IgG plasma cells for outnumbered the IgA and IgM cells in all three series and were most pronounced in JPrelat series. Most of the inflammatory cells were ANAE-negative (B cells) in all series (78-87%). The highest proportions of T and MPS cells were found in the JP series (10% for both). A statistically significantly higher ratio for TH/Ts (OKT4+/OKT8+) was found in both the JP and JPrelat series as compared with that of the healthy controls. The findings suggest that imbalance (either inherited or acquired) in the immune regulation may play role in the development of JP.