Lymphocyte blastogenic response to collagen in periodontal disease is predominantly a B-cell response and dependent upon adherent cells

ABSTRACT

Peripheral blood lymphocytes patients with periodontal disease undergo blastogenesis with human collagen type I. The cellular characteristics of this response were examined by fractionation of the cell populations and assay of thymidine uptake of responding cells. They were separated on nylon wool columns and monoclonal antibodies [OKT3 and anti-Lew M2] were used to further characterize the cell separation method. B-lymphocytes [OKT3 -] responded at higher levels to collagen than T-lymphocytes [OKT3 +]. Depletion of polystyrene adherent cells reduced the response to a greater extent. Reconstitution with approximately 10% adherent cells gave the maximal lymphoblastogenic response to collagen