EX-VIVO STUDIES OF POLYMORPHONUCLEAR NEUTROPHILS FROM PATIENTS WITH EARLY-ONSET FORMS OF PERIODONTITIS .1. CHEMOTACTIC ASSESSMENT USING THEUNDER AGAROSE METHOD

The polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) appears to be an important cell in the protection of the host from pathogenic periodontal microorgani sms and, despite some reports to the contrary, it is generally assumed that early-onset forms of periodontal disease (including both juvenil e and rapidly progressing periodontitis) are associated with a defect in PMN chemotactic behaviour. The purpose of the present study was to examine the peripheral PMN chemotactic behaviour, using the under agar ose method, in 4 groups, namely healthy periodontium group (n=7), ging ivitis group (n=8), early-onset periodontitis group (n=17) and adult p eriodontitis group (n=8). PMN from early-onset periodontitis patients showed normal random and chemotactic locomotory behaviour when compare d with those of PMN from subjects of the other groups. No statisticall y significant difference could be found among the 4 studied groups, wi th regard to spontaneous and oriented migration.