POLYAMINES FOUND IN GINGIVAL FLUID ENHANCE THE SECRETORY AND OXIDATIVE FUNCTION OF HUMAN POLYMORPHONUCLEAR LEUKOCYTES IN-VITRO

Many bacterial and host cells contain large amounts of polyamines that can be released at infection sites as a result of cell lysis. Consequ ently, the putrescine and spermidine content of gingival fluid from in flamed periodontal pockets (0.1 to 1 mM) is sharply elevated in compar ison to peripheral blood. At these levels, polyamines potentiated fMet -Leu-Phe-induced Ca2+ signaling in polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) in vitro. Consistent with the essential role of Ca2+ signaling in PMN activation, secondary granule release and superoxide anion production by fMet-Leu-Phe-stimulated PMNs was enhanced in the presence of polya mines. Thus, polyamines may play a local role in modulating the antimi crobial activity of PMNs in periodontal disease.