IMPAIRED BACTERICIDAL ACTIVITY OF PMN FROM 2 BROTHERS WITH NECROTIZING ULCERATIVE GINGIVO-PERIODONTITIS

THE PURPOSE OF THIS STUDY was to investigate the pathogenesis of necro tizing ulcerative gingivo-periodontitis (ANUP) diagnosed in two brothe rs, age 9 (ANUP1) and 14 (ANUP2) from rural Egypt. Complete blood coun t, differential and blood chemistry were within normal limits for both brothers and they were not malnourished. The phagocytosis and killing function of their polymorphonuclear leukocuytes (PMN) towards four ba cterial species were assessed using a fluorochrome microassay. The sel ection of bacterial species was based on preliminary microbiological r esults in early onset periodontitis in Egypt. Fluorochrome-labeled Pre votella intermedia, Peptostreptococcus micros, Campylobacter rectus, a nd Porphyromonas gingivalis were pre-opsonized with ANUP serum and add ed to PMN from both ANUP patients, as well as PMN from three sex-match ed and two sex-and age-matched healthy Egyptian control (CTL) subjects . We found significant depressions (P < 0.05) in PMN phagocytosis and killing of C. rectus and P. intermedia by ANUP1 and ANUP2, when compar ed to all CTL PMN. An assessment of the Gramnegative subgingival micro flora present in both ANUP patients (in colony forming unit percent of total CFU recovered) (CFU %) revealed the presence of P. intermedia ( ANUP1, 41.7 CFU %; ANUP2, 14.8 CFU %), Fusobacterium nucleatum (ANUP1, 3.6 CFU %; ANUP2, 48.1 CFU %), and Veillonella spp. (ANUP1, 18.2 CFU %; ANUP2, 18.5 CFU %). Spirochetes were also observed in cytocentrifug ed, Gram-stained plaque from both ANUP patients. The predominant Gram- positive bacterial species recovered from both NUG1 and NUG2 was Strep tococcus morbillorum.