Increased luminol enhanced chemiluminescence from peripheral granulocytes in juvenile periodontitis

The granulocyte function in patients with juvenile periodontitis (JP) (eight men and six women, aged 13-33 yr) and sex and age matched controls was determined by the luminol enhanced chemiluminescence (CL) induced by opsonized and unopsonized bacteria or latex beads. Maximal CL induced by latex beads with or without autologus serum did not differ between the two groups. However, bacteria with or without autologous serum seemed to induce a higher maximal CL in the JP group. The difference was statistically significant for the results obtained with opsonized bacteria. Serum opsonized bacteria induced a much higher maximal CL than the unopsonized. The opsonin dependent reaction indicates a close association with the process of phagocytosis. The increased CL of granulocytes in JP could indicate the formation of extracellularly free oxygen radicals with the potential to damage tissue. These observations support a possible involvement of the granulocytes in the pathogenesis of JP.