Neutrophil dysfunctions, IL-8, and soluble L-selectin plasma levels in rapidly progressive versus adult and localized juvenile periodontitis: variations according to disease severity and microbial flora.

We used flow cytometry to analyze the expression of adhesion molecules and the oxidative burst of whole-blood polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) from 26 patients with periodontitis. Three different clinical entities were studied: adult periodontitis (AP), localized juvenile periodontitis (LJP), and rapidly progressive periodontitis (RPP). Unstimulated PMN from the patients showed reduced Lewis x, sialyl-Lewis x, and L-selectin expression relative to those from healthy control subjects.

Interleukin-8 production by polymorphonuclear neutrophils in patients with rapidly progressive periodontitis: an amplifying loop of polymorphonuclear neutrophil activation.

Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) are the most abundant immune cells in inflammatory gingival sites of patients with early onset periodontitis, localized juvenile periodontitis, and rapidly progressive periodontitis (RPP). In the latter, the large number of PMN in connective tissue may explain the marked gingival destruction. Because interleukin-8 (IL-8) is a potent PMN chemoattractant, we evaluated circulating levels and gingival mRNA expression of IL-8.