T-CELL INTERACTIONS WITH EXTRACELLULAR-MATRIX PROTEINS IN PERIODONTAL-DISEASE

Lymphoid cell infiltration of periodontal tissues undergoing pathologi cal destruction suggests a functional interdependence between connecti ve tissue proteins such as collagen, fibronectin and elastin and monon uclear cells, mainly T lymphocytes. The aim of the study was to assess T lymphocyte proliferation after stimulation by mAb OKT3 and then cos timulation by ECM (extracellular matrix) proteins, as well as T-cell a dhesion to connective tissue proteins in patients with adult periodont itis, early-onset periodontitis, chronic gingivitis and experimental g ingivitis. Controls included patients with clinically healthy periodon tium. Statistical analysis of results showed a significantly decreased level of T lymphocyte proliferation in response to costimulating acti on of ECM proteins among patients with adult periodontitis as compared to the control group. Reactivity of T-cells was much higher in experi mental gingivitis than in adult periodontitis, and significantly lower in chronic gingivitis than in controls. In addition, T-cell interacti on with ECM proteins was abnormal in early-onset periodontitis patient s, but was not statistically significant. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B. V. All rights reserved.