Analysis of neutrophil chemotaxis and CD11b expression in pre-pubertal periodontitis

The objectives of this study were to (1) determine chemotaxis (CX) response by neutrophils (PMNs) isolated from patients with the localized form of pre-pubertal periodontitis (L-PP) and compare these responses with those of age-matched and adult controls, (2) determine the level and up-regulation of CD11b expression upon stimulation with fMLP by peripheral blood PMNs (PB-PMNs) isolated from patients with L-PP and compare these levels with those of age-matched and adult controls, and (3) determine whether there is a correlation between CX and CD11b expression (up-regulation) by PB-PMNs. PB-PMNs from a total of seven patients with L-PP, seven age-matched pediatric controls, and 11 adult controls (four adults for both CD11b and CX assays, and seven adults for CX assays only) were analyzed for CX and CD11b expression. Direct immunofluorescence staining of CD11b was performed with FITC-conjugated monoclonal antibody. Flow cytometry was used to analyze stained cells for their fluorescence intensity. Chemotaxis activity in response to 10(-8) mol/L fMLP was examined in micro-well chemotaxis chambers. The results indicated that CX of PMNs from both L-PP patients and pediatric control subjects was significantly decreased, compared with that of normal adult control subjects (p less than 0.001). There was no significant difference between CX of PMNs from L-PP patients and that from normal pediatric controls (p greater than 0.7). CD11b expression did not significantly differ among L-PP patients, normal pediatric controls, and adult controls.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)