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Immunohistochemical Study of γδ T Cells in Human Gingival Tissues
Author(s) -
Kawahara Kazuko,
Fukunaga Masami,
Takata Takashi,
Kawamura Makoto,
Morishita Masayuki,
Iwamoto Yoshifumi
Publication year - 1995
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.1995.66.9.775
Subject(s) - connective tissue , pathology , immunohistochemistry , infiltration (hvac) , pathogenesis , biopsy , cd3 , epithelium , cytotoxic t cell , inflammation , medicine , immune system , biology , chemistry , cd8 , immunology , in vitro , materials science , composite material , biochemistry
T he distribution and the density of γδ T cells in human gingival tissues were examined immunohistochemically in biopsy samples obtained from 20 subjects. Few γδ T cells were observed in gingival tissue free from inflammatory cell infiltration, but were found, albeit in low numbers, in association with inflammatory cell infiltration, especially T cells. This relationship with T cells was confirmed statistically. The ratios of 78 T cells to T cells in the epithelia and in the connective tissue were calculated in the sections in which more than 500 CD3‐positive cells were identified. Seven of eight such epithelial specimens showed a ratio of less than 1% and one less than 2% (mean ± SD; 0.8% ± 0.4). In the connective tissue, 8 of 13 such specimens showed less than 1%, three less than 2%, one 3%, and one 7% (1.4% ± 1.9). These results suggest that basically γδ T cells are not resident cells in the gingival epithelium such as comprise the first defense line against exogenous irritation. They may play some role in the pathogenesis of periodontal disease collaborating with γδ T cells in the inflammatory response. J Periodontol 1995;66:775–779 .