Polymorphonuclear neutrophil function in recurrent aphthous stomatitis

Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) are the predominant cell type in the established lesion of recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS). The function of these cells was studied in 15 patients with RAS and 15 age and sex matched controls. Production of oxygen radicals was assessed using cytochrome-c and nitroblue tetrazolium dye (NBT) reduction assays. Oxidative metabolism was found to be similar for experimental and control groups in both stimulated and non-stimulated assays. Adherence to glass surfaces by PMN was also measured. Adherence of PMN, both from patients and controls, was significantly reduced by serum, but to a lesser extent by serum from patients compared to controls. This effect of serum on adherence was reversed by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) stimulation. These studies suggest that increased adherence of stimulated PMN, due to humoral factors, may be involved in perpetuating ulcerative lesions in RAS.