Periodontal bone loss and immune characteristics after adoptive transfer of Actinobacillus‐sensitized T cells to rats

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Abstract
The immune response, gingival inflammation and periodontal bone loss were examined in rats receiving adoptive transfer of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans (Aa)‐sensitized T cells and oral infection with Aa. Thirty‐eight, 30‐day‐old, male Rowett phenotypically normal (rnu/+) heterozygous rats were placed into three groups: 1) Aa‐sensitized T cell transfer group (AaT), 2) sham‐sensitized T cell transfer group (ST) and 3) no transfer control group (C), infected with Aa, and then sacrificed at 120 d of age. Blastogenesis of splenocytes to PHA and Con A was observed in AaT and ST animals that exceeded the values in C animals. Positive antigenic lymphoproliferation and delayed‐type hypersensitivity (foot pad swelling) to Aa were found in AaT group rats, but weak responses were observed in ST and C group rats. Serum IgG, salivary IgA and IgG antibody concentrations to Aa were elevated in AaT and ST groups compared with the control group after infection with Aa. The numbers of gingival T and B lymphocytes in the AaT group were increased in comparison to the other groups. There was also an obvious increase in horizontal bone loss in the AaT group rats. It is suggested that certain subsets of antigen‐specific T cells may augment destructive functions on periodontal tissues.