INFLUENCE OF GINGIVAL CREVICULAR WASHING ON THE EXPRESSION OF POLYMORPHONUCLEAR LEUKOCYTE MEMBRANE-RECEPTORS BEFORE AND AFTER PERIODONTAL THERAPY

Extensive data demonstrate that polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) are the predominant cell type involved in periodontal disease and that gi ngival crevicular fluid constituents are influenced by the inflamed gi ngiva. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the ability of gin gival crevicular washing (GCW) (a dilution of gingival crevicular flui d) from periodontal sites in different clinical conditions of modulati ng the PMN membrane receptors involved in motility, adhesion and phago cytosis before and after periodontal treatment. 10 patients affected b y adult periodontitis (AP) were selected. From each patient, 2 test si tes (TS) were chosen on the basis of a probing depth >5 mm and attachm ent loss, and 2 control sites (CS) with probing depth <3 mm without at tachment loss. Modifications of membrane receptor density of PMN from healthy donors incubated with GCW harvested from TS and CS was evaluat ed using fluorescent probes and flow cytometry Compared to CS-GCW, TS- GCW before therapy increased the expression of the beta 2 integrin CD1 1b and the chemotactic receptor for the oligopeptide N-formyl methiony l leucyl phenylalanine (FMLP-R) while it reduced the expression of L-s electin. GCW collected from the same TS after the successful completio n of periodontal treatment did not influence PMN receptors, indicating that the clinical improvement paralleled the disappearance of the PMN modulating capability contained in TS-GCW before therapy. In conclusi on, the present data illustrate the relevant modifications occurring a t PMN mebrane in chronic adult periodontitis exerted by GCW obtained b y a simple fluid collection technique. Thus, monitoring gingival crevi cular fluid PMN activating capability may help disclose the presence o f chronic periodontitis and may be useful in assessing successful trea tment.