Elevation of a serum component in periodontal disease capable of modulating chemotactic infiltration.

Serum from dental patients was examined for its capacity to affect migration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes toward a complement-independent chemotactic factor, bacterial filtrate of Escherichia coli, (BF). Seven subjects with advanced periodontitis, documented with clinical measurements of pocket depth, loss of attachment, indices for gingival inflammation and oral hygiene, were paired with normal subjects of similar age and sex. This study shows that patients whose only apparent clinical symptom was severe periodontal inflammation harbor a heat-stable, serum component which neutralizes factors chemotactic for polymorphonuclear leukocytes. A role for this component in modulation of inflammatory infiltration is discussed.