Open AccessPotential Effect of Neutrophil Functional Disorders on Pathogenesis of Aggressive Periodontitis
Author(s) -
Tapashetti Rp,
Sumit Sharma,
Patil,
Sowjanya Guvva
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
the journal of contemporary dental practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 1526-3711
DOI - 10.5005/jp-journals-10024-1333
Subject(s) - phagocytosis , periodontitis , chemotaxis , pathogenesis , immunology , medicine , aggressive periodontitis , respiratory burst , respiratory system , receptor
Leukocytes play a key role in maintaining the balance between an effective host defence response to microorganisms and periodontal tissue destruction. Neutrophil dysfunction has been associated with increased susceptibility to periodontal diseases. We undertook this study to determine to what extent neutrophil dysfunction constitutes to the pathogenesis of aggressive periodontitis (AgP) in tropical country like ours. Materials and methods Age- and sex-matched groups consisting of 20 subjects each of generalized aggressive periodontitis (GAP)–cases and nonperiodontitis (NP)–controls. diabetes mellitus, HIV infection, prolonged antibiotic use and smoking were excluded. Each neutrophil function was assessed using the chemotactic assay using case in, phagocytosis assay, candidacidal assay (for intracellular killing) and NBT assay (for respiratory burst failure). Statistical analysis used Student's t-test, Fisher's exact test and Chi-square test. Results In the study 17 out of 20 subjects (85%) had at least one abnormal neutrophil assay either hypofunctional or hyperfunctional of which 16 (80%) had hypofunctional assays and 8 (40%) had hyperfunctional assays. Defective phagocytosis was the commonest (50%) followed by chemotactic defect (45%), defective respiratory burst (40%) and defective intracellular killing (30%). Mean of chemotaxis assay was significantly less in AgP when compared to controls (103 vs 129 £gm, p = 0.002), similarly for phagocytic defect (3.45 vs 4.65, p „T 0.001) and with candidacidal assay (26.80 vs 37.35, p < 0.001). Conclusion The prevalence of neutrophil dysfunction, predominantly hypofunctional, was significantly very high in GAP patients with few even having hyperactive respiratory burst function. Multiple level neutrophil defects could account for the aggressive nature of AgP even in apparently healthy subjects. How to cite this article Tapashetti RP, Sharma S, Patil SR, Guvva S. Potential Effect of Neutrophil Functional Disorders on Pathogenesis of Aggressive Periodontitis. J Contemp Dent Pract 2013;14(3):387-393.