Indirect blastogenesis of peripheral blood leukocytes in experimental gingivitis

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Abstract
The blastogenic response of peripheral blood leukocytes to Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was followed over a short course of experimental gingivitis, developed in human volunteers who strictly avoided oral hygiene procedures for periods up to 9 days. Eleven young males initially received thorough dental prophylaxes and supervised oral hygiene until they acquired optimal gingival health. At this point, leukocytes (5 .times. 105) incubated with 1.5 to 25 .mu.g of LPS in serum-free media showed no response as measured by tritiated thymidine uptake. Coincubation of cells with LPS and phytohemagglutinin (PHA) caused synergistic enhancement of blastogenesis in every LPS-PHA dose combination tried. With progressive accumulation of dental plaque and the concomitant development of gingival inflammation, this synergistic response was lost and replaced, proportionately, by a direct response to LPS. The leukocyte response to PHA was marginally enhanced with gingivitis. [This report documents modulation of immunocompetence of peripheral blood leukocytes expressed in vitro accompanying progressive dental plaque accumulation and gingivitis.].