Expressions of selected adhesion molecules on peripheral blood leukocytes in patients with aggressive periodontitis

Aggressive forms of periodontitis lead to rapid bone destruction resulting in extensive losses in children's and young adults' dentition. Adhesion molecule deficiency syndrome and abnormalities in the expression of various adhesion molecules on peripheral blood leukocytes can be observed in prepubertal and aggressive periodontitis (AP) patients. The aim of the study was thus to assess the expression of selected cell adhesion molecules (CAMs; CD11a, CD11b, CD11c, CD54, and CD62L) on monocytes, neutrophils, and lymphocytes of the peripheral blood in patients with AP.

The study involved 16 patients with AP and a control group of 13 generally healthy subjects with healthy periodontium. CAM expressions were determined by flow cytometry and presented as mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) and percentage of cells showing expression of the assessed adhesion molecules.

Neutrophil CAM expressions in AP patients were comparable with those of the control group. MFI of CD62L on monocytes in AP patients was significantly lower than that of the controls. Lymphocytes showed increased CD11b expression compared with the control group. The percentage of leukocytes showing CAM expression in both groups was similar. Only the percentage of lymphocytes with CD11b in AP patients was significantly higher than in healthy controls.

Because of the evident lack of differences between patients and controls and the great amount of individual dispersion of the results, the above CAMs on peripheral blood leukocytes in generally healthy patients with AP do not seem to be characteristic markers of this disease.