Evidence for local immunoglobulin synthesis in periodontitis.

Periodontitis lesions are characterized by an increased plasma cell infiltrate. These cells have been shown to increase in number with the severity of the disease and in vitro synthesis of immunoglobulins by gingival plasma cells has been shown in tissue culture. This study correlated gingival and serum immunoglobulin levels to reflect the in vivo production of immunoglobulin. An electroimmunoassay technique was employed to determine serum and gingival IgG concentrations simultaneously relative to reference albumin levels in 16 patients with periodontitis. Results indicated that local immunoglobulin synthesis and accumulation occurs at the gingival site. Data obtained demonstrated that an average of 74.56% of the IgG found in gingiva from periodontitis patients was of local origin.