Neutrophil Functions in Patients with Severe Periodontal Disease

Recently several investigators have reported that neutrophil functions were depressed or defective in localized and generalized juvenile periodontitis. It has also been shown that patients with adult periodontitis exhibit no such abnormalities. Concerning rapidly progressing periodontitis, only a few reports have been provided. The purpose of the present study was to compare various neutrophil functions in patients with rapidly progressing periodontitis (RPP), generalized adult periodontitis (AP), and in periodontally healthy or control subjects.Neutrophils and monocytes were obtained from heparinized peripheral blood of 13 RPP, 16 AP, and 18 control subjects. Cells were isolated by Percoll® discontinuous density gradient centrifugation. Neutrophil phagocytosis was examined by use of FITC-labeled bacteria, and the number of EA rosette-forming cells was determined. Random migration and chemotaxis of neutrophils and monocytes were evaluated with the Boyden chamber. In addition, opsonizing activity of plasma...