CONVERSION OF A STABLE T-CELL LESION TO A PROGRESSIVE B-CELL LESION IN THE PATHOGENESIS OF CHRONIC INFLAMMATORY PERIODONTAL-DISEASE - HYPOTHESIS

Abstract Changes in the host's immunological response or, alternatively, changes in the oral microflora have been implicated as possible mechanisms by which a stable lesion of chronic inflammatory periodontal disease may become a progressive lesion leading to tissue destruction and tooth loss. It has recently been established that the progressive lesion in humans can be unequivocally considered as a B‐cell response. Circumstantial evidence exists which suggests that the stable lesion is in fact a T‐cell‐mediated mechanism. An hypothesis is presented to explain the change from a stable to a progressive state in terms of a shift from a predominantly T‐cell lesion to one involving large numbers of B‐cells. Mechanisms of this shift in cell populations are considered together with a discussion of possible means of preventing such a shift. Copyright © 1979, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved