Impaired phagosomal maturation in neutrophils leads to periodontitis in lysosomal-associated membrane protein-2 knockout mice.

Inflammatory periodontal diseases constitute one of the most common infections in humans, resulting in the destruction of the supporting structures of the dentition. Circulating neutrophils are an essential component of the human innate immune system. We observed that mice deficient for the major lysosomal-associated membrane protein-2 (LAMP-2) developed severe periodontitis early in life.