Immunopathology of periodontal disease. II. Immunofluorescent studies on the localized immune response in periodontitis and juvenile periodontitis.

Local immunologic responses were studied in eleven patients with periodontitis, ten patients with juvenile periodontitis, and ten control subjects by performing immunofluorescence on gingival biopsies. F(ab')2 monospecific conjugates to human IgG, IgM, IgA, IgD, and kappa and lambda light chains were used as well as monospecific conjugates to human IgE and properdin. Biopsies from patients with juvenile periodontitis displayed a more intensified immunologic response as evidenced by increases of (I) positive cells stained with a F(ab')2 antihuman immunoglobulin conjugate; (2) IgG, IgM, and kappa and lambda containing cells; (3) extracellular fluorescence of IgG, IgM, IgA, and kappa and lambda light chains; and (4) properdin deposition. Neither IgD nor IgE conjugates reacted significantly with biopsies from the three patient groups. These findings support our previous conclusion that immunologic responses in periodontitis and juvenile periodontitis appear qualitatively similar, but that patients with juvenile periodontitis exhibit a more intense immune response.