The specificity of serum factors in lymphocyte transformation in periodontal disease

Abstract

Peripheral blood lymphocytes from patients with periodontal disease were stimulated in vitro by sonicates of Veillonella alcalescens in the presence of autologous and substituted sera which were either untreated or absorbed with Veillonella cells. A significant positive correlation was found between the level of lymphocyte stimulation and IgM class of haemagglutinating antibody titres in patients with mild periodontitis (MP) (P<0·01) but not in those with gingivitis (G), severe periodontitis (SP) or in the control group (C). Absorption of autologous serum with a suspension of Veillonella cells resulted in a depression of lymphocyte stimulation by Veillonella antigen in G or MP patients, but had no effect on lymphocyte stimulation in SP patients. Furthermore, absorption with Veillonella abolished the stimulating activity of substituted G or MP sera on lymphocyte cultures from SP patients and the inhibitory activity of SP sera on lymphocyte cultures from G or MP patients. Serum absorption was specific, as it did not affect the mitogenic response of lymphocytes to Actinomyces viscosus, PPD or PHA. The data is interpreted in terms of modulation of lymphocyte responses in vitro by stimulating or inhibitory antibodies.