Flow-cytometric analysis of T-lymphocyte subsets in sinistral and dextral patients with gingivitis

The aim of this study was to determine whether there was any change in T-lymphocyte subsets in sinistral and dextral patients with gingivitis. The study was carried out on 36 patients (16 males and 20 females) with gingivitis. The age of the patients ranged from 16 to 25 (mean age = 18.50 +/- 3.85). Patients were divided into two equal groups according to their right or left hand use. Being right- or left-handed was determined with Edinburgh Handedness Inventory (Oldfield). At the beginning of the study, gingival index (GI-L?e-Silness) and plaque index (PI-Silness-L?e) scores were recorded in order to assess the gingival tissue health in patients. At the same time, the biopsy samples were taken from the gingival pocket wall tissues at sites of gingivitis. Then, CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocyte and CD4/CD8 ratio values were determined using flow-cytometry in the biopsy samples. The two groups were compared by using Student's t-test. The normal value in peripheral blood of CD4+ lymphocyte and that of CD8+ lymphocyte are 25-29% and 19-48%, respectively. According to flow cytometry findings, in both sinistrality and dexterity with gingivitis, CD+ and CD8+ lymphocyte values were under the normal value while the CD4/CD8 rate was within normal distribution interval. CD4+ lymphocyte values observed in the sinistral patients were found to be lower than those in the dextral patients. The difference between the CD8+ lymphocyte values in left-handed patients and that obtained in right-handed patients was not found to be statistically significant while the difference between the CD4+ lymphocyte values in left-handed patients and that obtained in right-handed patients was found to be statistically significant (p < .05). In addition, the difference between the CD4/CD8 rate obtained in left-handed patients and that obtained in right-handed patients was found to be statistically very significant (p < .001). Consequently, these findings suggested CD4+ lymphocyte value and CD4/CD8 rate was lower in sinistrality. Sinistrality and dexterity may play an important role in local immune response.