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 CDllb 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 CDllb 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 CDllb and CX assays, and seven adults for CX assays only) were analyzed for CX and CDllb expression. Direct immunofluorescence staining of CDllb 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 (p0.7). CDllb expression did not significantly differ among L-PP patients, normal pediatric controls, and adult controls. Analysis of the data indicates that there was no statistically significant correlation between CX and CDllb expression by PMNs isolated from L-PP and pediatric control subjects.