THE COMPOSITION OF GINGIVAL INFLAMMATORY CELL INFILTRATES IN CHILDREN STUDIED BY ENZYME-HISTOCHEMISTRY

Abstract Gingival biopsies were obtained from 23 children, aged 5‐11 years (8.6 ± 1.8 years). Specimens were taken from areas of the gingiva adjacent to the teeth which were to be extracted because of caries or its sequelae and which clinically had a gingival index score of at least 1. Staining for α‐naphthyl acetate esterase with unspecific esterase at pH 5.8 (ANAE) permitted identification of T lymphocytes, monocytes/macrophages, plasma cells and non‐reactive (ANAE‐negative) cells. Cells which tentatively were identified as “natural killer” (NK) cells were also observed. Differential cell counting was performed for 10 specimens, selected on the basis of the presence of a well‐defined inflammatory infiltrate, clear morphology throughout and good ANAE staining. Cell counts confirmed earlier studies showing that lymphocytes predominate in the inflammatory infiltrates in childrens' gingivitis. T lymphocytes dominated particularly in the periphery of the most densely infiltrated areas. Relatively few plasma cells were seen. It was concluded that T lymphocytes dominate in the inflammatory infiltrate in childrens' gingivitis. Copyright © 1990, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved