Effects of cyclosporine A on plasma cells in experimental gingivitis in dogs

The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the effect of Cyclosporine A (CsA) on the inflammatory lesion formed in the gingival tissues during de novo plaque formation. 5 beagle dogs were used. On day 0, all teeth of the 5 dogs were scaled and polished. A 6-week period of plaque control including daily tooth cleaning with toothbrush and dentifrice was initiated. A clinical examination regarding plaque and gingivitis was performed, and the plaque control measures were abandoned on the right side of mandible. 3 weeks later, the clinical examination was repeated, samples of subgingival plaque harvested and biopsies obtained from the 3rd and 4th right mandibular premolar regions. The tooth cleaning measures on the left side of the mandible were terminated at this interval. During the following 3 weeks, the animals formed plaque in the lower left premolar regions, and received, 1 x daily, a subcutaneous injection of CsA. At the end of this 2nd plaque formation period (test), the clinical examination was repeated, subgingival plaque was sampled and biopsies from the 3rd and 4th left mandibular premolar regions harvested. The biopsies were prepared for histometric and morphometric analyses. The clinical and histological examinations demonstrated that plaque formation resulted in a gingival lesion (ICT) which, in the 2 periods, had similar size and apical extension. The ICT formed during the CsA administration period, however, harbored an increased number of plasma cells and a reduced macrophage density than the control lesion. It is suggested that CsA administration may result in a Th-2 (T-helper 2-cell) dependent activation of B-lymphocytes.