HIGH NUMBERS OF T-CELLS IN GINGIVA FROM PATIENTS WITH HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS (HIV) INFECTION

A quantitative, immunohistologic evaluation of CD3(+), CD4(+) and CD8(+) cells was carried out on gingival biopsies from 25 HIV-infected persons with gingivitis or periodontitis and 13 HIV-seronegative persons with periodontitis. CD3(+) T cells were found in all biopsies. CD8(+) cells were significantly more numerous and the CD4(+)/CD8(+) ratio was significantly decreased in the gingival connective tissue of the HIV+ patients (p<0.05). The number of CD4(+) lymphocytes subjacent to the pocket epithelium was moderately lower in the HIV+ patients as compared to the HIV- patients (p<0.05). HIV+ patients with a history of necrotizing periodontal disease had fewer CD4(+) cells subjacent to the oral gingival epithelium than patients without such disease (p<0.05). The general HIV-related changes in T lymphocyte numbers were therefore reflected in inflamed gingival tissues. HIV+ patients had, however, significantly higher CD4(+)/CD8(+) ratios in gingiva than in peripheral blood (p<0.05), indicating that CD4(+) T cells are actively recruited to gingiva, even in cases of extreme CD4(+) T lymphocytopenia.