Comparison of cellular and humoral immunity against streptococcal and adult human oral mucosa antigens in relation to exacerbation or recurrent aphthous stomatitis.

Cell-mediated immunity (CMI) and humoral mediated immunity (HMI) against streptococcal and adult human oral mucosa (AHOM) antigens were investigated in patients with inactive and active recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS). The CMI and HMI were examined by means of the leucocyte migration test (LMT) and a double layer immunofluorescence (IF) technique. The CMI against Streptococcus sanguis strain 2A, streptococcus pyogenes strain M5, and AHOM was significantly increased in inactive and active RAS. Significant difference between active and inactive RAS was only demonstrated when Strep. 2A was used as antigen in the leucocyte migration cultures. Longitudinal observations in relation to exacerbation of RAS revealed significant changes in the migration indices (MI) when Strep. 2A and AHOM were used as antigens. Extracts of Strep. M5 and other tissues as kidney and uterus did not show any significant changes of MI in relation to the exacerbation of RAS. The IF-investigations detected significantly raised IgG antibodies against washed whole cells of Streptococcus sanguis strain 2A and Streptococcus pyogenes strain M5 in sera from patients with RAS. The autoantibodies in RAS belonged to the immunoglobulin classes IgG and IgM. The detected antibodies were able to blind serum complement (C3). The distribution of endpoint titres (EPT) against Strep. 2A, Strep. M5, and AHOM antigens did not differ significantly in patients with active RAS in relation to those with inactive RAS. Furthermore, the EPT against Strep. 2A and AHOM were not significantly changed in relation to exacerbation of RAS. The present investigations show that CMI and HMI against streptococcal and AHOM antigens are characteristic features of RAS and indicate that the CMI against Strep. 2A and AHOM is significantly increased in relation to exacerbation of RAS.