Premium
Leukocyte Function in the Etiology of Acute Necrotizing Ulcerative Gingivitis
Author(s) -
Cogen Ronald B.,
Stevens Alvin W.,
CohenCole Steven,
Kirk Katherine,
Freeman Arthur
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
journal of periodontology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.036
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1943-3670
pISSN - 0022-3492
DOI - 10.1902/jop.1983.54.7.402
Subject(s) - etiology , gingivitis , medicine , dermatology , immunology , dentistry , pathology
P atients with the diagnosis of acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis (ANUG) and their controls, matched for age, sex, race and general plaque accumulation, donated blood for differential white blood cell counts and for assay of several leukocyte functions. The leukocyte function assays included polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) responsiveness to chemotaxis and phagocytosis, and lymphocyte responsiveness to stimulation by nonspecific mitogens. The differential leukocyte counts were within the normal range for all subjects tested, and there was no diffference between ANUG patients and controls. The ANUG patients did, however, display significantly depressed PMN responsiveness in both chemotaxis and phagocytosis, compared to the controls. There was also reduced DNA synthesis by ANUG patients' lymphocytes upon stimulation by a nonspecific mitogen (Con A). The data presented in this report suggest that depression of some host defense mechanisms, particularly PMN chemotaxis and phagocytosis, may be important in the pathogenesis of ANUG.