Immunopathology of T-lymphocyte subsets in juvenile and rapidly progressive periodontitis.

The immunopathology of T4 & T8 cell subsets in gingival tissues from 20 patients affected with either juvenile (JP) or rapidly progressive periodontitis (RPP) were studied using immunoperoxidase method for monoclonal antibodies of T4 & T8. Results were compared with gingival samples taken from systemically and periodontally healthy subjects. T4 subsets were found to be significantly elevated in JP & RPP, when compared with controls. Yet it was found to be higher in JP than in RPP, while T8 subsets were found to be depressed in both types of diseases. Those findings could contribute to the immunopathogenesis of JP & RPP.