Experimental gingivitis in humans.

Cell types in a human experimental gingivitis model were analyzed sequentially on days 0, 4, 8, and 21 of a no oral hygiene period. The cells were characterized using enzyme and surface antigen markers. In all but two of the day 0 specimens a small inflammatory infiltrate was localized immediately beneath the junctional epithelium. These, essentially lymphocytic lesions, consisted of over 70% T-cells as suggested by the phenotype T-enzyme +ve/T-cell surface antigen +ve/B-cell surface antigen -ve/HLA-DR-ve/B-cell subset antigen -ve. At days 4,8, and 21, although the size of the infiltrate increased, its essential nature did not change. At all times the majority of lymphocytes (over 70%) had the characteristic T-cell phenotype. These results show that in the developing gingival lesion in humans a T-cell dominated lesion occurs and persists at least for the 3 week experimental period used in the present study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]