Periodontal diseases, the major cause of tooth loss in adults, are infections that are caused by oral bacteria and result in progressive destruction of the supporting structures of the teeth. Recently, evidence from several laboratories [1-3] has suggested that neutrophilic polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNLs; neutrophils) play a major role in protecting the periodontal tissues from bacterial infection. This concept is based on the demonstration that neutrophils from patients with a severe form of periodontal disease termed juvenile periodontitis (periodontosis) display decreased locomotion and phagocytic activities. Further support for the protective role of neutrophils in periodontal disease comes from the observation that individuals with neutrophil disorders, such as agranulocytosis, the Chediak-Higashi syndrome, and cyclic neutropenia, have severe forms of periodontal disease. © 1979 by The University of Chicago.
