Immunohistochemical analysis of inflammatory infiltrate in aggressive and chronic periodontitis: a comparative study

This immunohistochemical study evaluated the inflammatory infiltrate with its cluster differentiation markers (CD 4, CD 8, CD 20, and CD 68) in aggressive and chronic periodontitis gingival tissues in order to identify the specific cell distribution. Twenty-seven human gingival biopsies were obtained and analyzed. Fourteen patients were suffering from chronic periodontitis and six from aggressive periodontitis; seven patients with healthy gingiva were included as the control group. The specimens were immunohistochemically stained for anti-CD 4 (T helper cells), anti-CD 8 (T cytotoxic/suppressor), anti CD-20 (B plasma cells) and anti CD-68 (macrophages). Chronic periodontitis samples were mainly dominated by CD 4 and CD 8+ cells. On the contrary, in aggressive periodontitis patients all four cell types (CD 4, CD 8, CD 20 and CD 68 + cells, respectively) were remarkably increased. CD 20+ cells were significantly (p < 0.05) more prevalent in aggressive versus chronic periodontitis. The control samples expressed lower CD 4, CD 8, CD 20 and CD 68+ cells confirming a none inflammatory state. The present study demonstrates prevalence for CD 20+ cells in aggressive periodontitis lesions. However, further studies need to be performed to confirm and identify a clear pattern of inflammatory cells and hereafter the mechanisms sustaining the disease.