Host Defense Findings in a Single Family Manifesting Early-Onset Periodontitis

Abstract

Assessments of host defense functions were made in a woman and her two daughters, all of whom manifested early-onset periodontitis (rapidly progressive periodontitis in the mother ; localized juvenile periodontitis in the elder daughter; gingivitis in the younger daughter). The analyses of peripheral neutrophil functions revealed depressed neutrophil chemotaxis in the mother. Phenotypic and functional analyses of peripheral lymphocytes showed an elevated percentage of CD 4⁺ cells and T 4/T 8 ratios in all subjects, and a depressed lymphocyte proliferative response to stimulation with CD 3 antibody in the younger daughter. Serological typing of HLA antigens revealed that the mother and one of the daughters had some class 11 HLA phenotypes in common. Serum IgG antibody levels to Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans were elevated in all subjects, those to Porphyromonas gingivalis in the mother and younger daughter, and those to Fusobacterium nucleatum in the mother. The pathogenesis of periodontal disease in individual members of this family could not be clarified solely from the results of the host defense functions examined. Other factors in the host defense network must be taken into consideration.