Ultrastructural studies of the effect of human leukocyte extracts on periodontopathic bacteria

Human gingival crevicular exudate (GE) and leukocyte extracts (LE) were previously shown to be able to release the bulk of radioactivity from a variety of 14C-labeled oral bacteria. The present study demonstrates that the release of radiolabel by these enzymatic agents from two periodontopathic bacteria (Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans strain Y4 and Capnocytophaga sputigena strain 4) is accompanied by both cell wall and cytoplasmatic damage. The possible role of bacterial products released by lysosomal enzymes, present in the gingival crevice, is discussed.