Twelve histologically-confirmed periapical granulomas were evaluated by conventional immunologic rosette assays for the presence of T-lymphocytes and complement receptor-bearing lymphocytes. A technique for dispersing the granuloma cells into suspensions was adopted to facilitate performance of the assays which were not applicable to tissue sections. Differential cell counts by an acridine orange vital dye method disclosed that the cell suspensions contained 30% macrophages, 44% lymphocytes, 15% plasma cells, and 12% neutrophils. Complement receptor-bearing cells comprised 17.9%, and T cells comprised 34.5% of the unseparated inflammatory cells. This study provides the first direct evidence of a predominance of thymic-derived lymphocytes in the lymphocyte compartment of the periapical granuloma. Analysis of the data shows that cell-mediated immunity most likely plays a role in the pathogenesis of the periapical granuloma.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Stern, M.H.; Dreizen, S.; Mackler, B.F.; Selbst, A.G.; and Levy, B.M.: Quantitative Analysis of Cellular Composition of Human Periapical Granuloma , J Endo7 :117-122, 1981.
2.
Willoughby, D.A. and Ryan, G.B.: Evidence for aPossible Endogenous Antigen in Chronic Inflammation, J Path101: 233-239, 1970.
3.
Adams, D.D.: The Granulomatous Inflammatory Response, A Review, Am J Pathol84:164-191, 1976.
4.
Kuntz, D.D. and Genco, R.J.: Localization of Immunoglobulins and Complement in Persistent Periapical Lesions , IADR Progr & Abst53:No. 641, 1974.
5.
Pulver, W.H. ; Taubman, M.A.; and Smith, D.J.: Immune Components in Human Dental Pulp and Periapical Lesions, IADR Progr & Abst55:No. 671, 1976.
6.
Pulver, W.H. ; Taubman, M.A.; and Smith, D.J.: Immune Components in Human Dental Pulp and Periapical Lesions, Arch Oral Biol23:435-443, 1978.
7.
Morton, T.H. ; Clagett, J.A.; and Yavorsky , J.D.: Role of Immune Complexes in Human Periapical Periodontitis, J Endo3:261-268, 1977.
8.
Stern, M.H.; Dreizen, S.; Mackler, B.F.; and Levy, B.M.: Antibody-Producing Cells in Human Periapical Granulomas and Cysts, J Endo7:447-452, 1981.
9.
Farber, P.A. : Scanning Electron Microscopy of Cells from Periapical Lesions, J Endo1:291-294, 1975.
10.
Stabholz, A. and McArthur, W.P.: Cellular Immune Responses of Patients with Periapical Pathosis to Necrotic Dental Pulp Antigens Determined by Release of LIF, J Endo4: 282-287, 1978.
11.
Knowles, D.M. and Holck, S.: Tissue Localization of T-lymphocytes by the Histochemical Demonstration of Acid A-naphthyl Acetate Esterase, Lab Invest39:70-76, 1978.
12.
Whiteside, T.L. and Rabin, B.S.: Surface Immunoglobulin on Activated Human Peripheral Blood Thymus-derived Cells, J Clin Invest57:762-771, 1976.
13.
Whiteside, T.L.: Reactivity of Anti-human Brain Serum with Human Lymphocytes, Am J Pathol86:1-16, 1977.
14.
Schoorl, R. ; de la Riviere , A.B.; Von dem Borne, A.E.G.; and Feltkampvroom, T.M.: Identification of T and B Lymphocytes in Human Breast Cancer with Immuno-histochemical Techniques, Am J Pathol84:529-544, 1976.
15.
de la Riviere, A.B.; Verhoef-Karssen , P.F.; Bosma, A.; Von dem Borne, A.E.G.; and Englefriet, P.: Specific Antisera Against Human Blood Cells Applicable in the Indirect Immuno-fluorescence Technique, Scand J Immunol5:1065-1074, 1976.
16.
Koshiba, H. ; Ishii, Y.; Yamanaka, N.; and Kikuchi, K.: Identification of Human Peripheral T Cell Antigens, J Immunol118:625-629, 1977.
17.
Balch, C.M. ; Patsy, A.D.; Dagg, M.K.; Diethelm, A.G.; and Lawton, A.R.: Detection of Human T Cells Using Anti-monkey Thymocyte Antisera, Clin Immunol Immunopath8:448-460, 1977.
18.
Jondal, M.; Holm, G.; and Wigzell, H.: Surface Markers on Human T and B Lymphocytes, J Exp Med136:207-215, 1972.
19.
Mendes, N.F. ; Miki, S.S.; and Peixinho , Z.F.: Combined Detection of Human T and B Lymphocytes by Rosette Formation with Sheep Erythrocytes and Zymosan-C3 Complexes, J Immunol113:531-537, 1974.
20.
Mackler, B.F. ; Withers, J.A.; Woodson, D.L.; Coker, E.; Herrin, A.; Friedman, L.; and O'Neill , P.A.: Human Gingival Lymphocytes. I. Methodology for the Isolation of Human Gingival Lymphocytes, J Dent Res58:1946-1952, 1979.
21.
Bover, G.F.: Atlas of Blood Cytology, Cytomorphology, Cytochemistry, and Cytogenetics, 1sted., New York: Grune and Stratton, 1964, p. 51.
22.
Withers, J.A.: Isolation and Immunologic Characterization of Lymphocytes from Human Gingiva . Unpublished M.S. dissertation, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, 1979 , p. 60.
23.
Paul, S.D.; Athanassiades, T.J.; and Speirs, R.S.: A Quantitative Procedure for the Study of Cells in Experimentally Induced Granulomas, Proc Soc Exp Biol Med139: 1090-1095, 1972.
24.
Camazine, S.M. ; Ryan, G.B.; Unanue, E.R.; and Kar-Novsky , M.J.: Isolation of Phagocytic Cells from the Rat Renal Glomerulus, Lab Invest35:315-327, 1976.
25.
Abrahamsen, T.G.; Froland, S.S.: NATVIG, J.B.; and PAHLE, J.: Elution and Characterization of Lymphocytes from Rheumatoid Inflammatory Tissue, J Immunol4 :823-830, 1975.
26.
Abrahamsen, T.G.; Froland S.S.; Natvig, J.B.; and Pahle, J.: Lymphocytes Eluted from Synovial Tissue of Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients , Arthritis Rheum20:772-778. 1977.
27.
Seigal, F.P. ; Filippa, D.A.; and Koziner, B.: Surface Markers in Leukemias and Lymphomas , Am J Pathol90 :451-460,1978.
28.
Eleazer, P.D. ; Farber, P.A.; and Seltzer, S.: Lack of Lymphocyte Stimulation by Root Canal Products, J Endo1:389-394, 1975.
