The phenotypic characterization of lymphoid cell subpopulations in gingivitis in children

Phenotypic characterization of lymphoid cell subpopulations in gingivitis associated with the deciduous dentition in children was carried out. Biopsies were obtained from 10 children aged between 5 and 9 years. The tissues were processed for either histochemistry or for immunofluorescence. T-cells were identified by their T-enzyme staining pattern and lack of immunoglobulin. B-cells on the other hand were identified by their lack of T-cell enzymes and presence of surface or cytoplasmic immunoglobulin. Morphologically the lesions consisted of approximately 70 % lymphocytes, between 11 and 26 % macrophages and fewer numbers of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and plasma cells. The majority of lymphocytes (approximately 70 %) were T-enzyme positive/Ig negative indicative of a Tcell population. Approximately 12 % of the infiltrating cells were immunoglobulin positive. These results showed that gingivitis in children is essentially a T-cell lesion and supports the hypothesis that the conversion from a stable to a progressive lesion involves shifts in cell populations.