Chemiluminescence in the assessment of polymorphonuclear leukocyte function in chronic inflammatory periodontal disease.

Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN's) constitute the primary host resistance factor against infection. They are prominent cells in both the gingival tissue and gingival sulcus in most forms of periodontal disease. Although defective PMN function has been implicated in the pathogenesis of localized juvenile periodontitis (LJP) and rapidly progressive periodontitis (RPP), this may not necessarily be the case in adult periodontitis (AP). A number of studies have failed to detect PMN dysfunction in AP. However, it may be that in this form of chronic inflammatory periodontal disease (CIPD) the defects in peripheral blood PMN function are subtle and the methods used may lack the necessary sensitivity. Chemiluminescence (CL) is the light energy produced by the PMN during its interaction with bacteria or other particles and has been demonstrated to correlate well with antibacterial integrity. Measurement of CL produced by phagocytically challenged PMN's may provide a very sensitive assay of the functional ability of these cells, and, hence, may be useful in assessing PMN activity in CIPD. Recent studies using PMN's obtained from periodontal diseased patients challenged with the periodontopathic organism Fusobacterium nucleatum have revealed an elevated CL response compared to non-diseased controls. These results are reviewed and areas for future research discussed.