Neutrophil chemotaxis in families with localized juvenile periodontitis.

Abstract

Localized juvenile periodontitis (LJP) is characterized by severe, early onset alveolar bone loss, localized to the first molars and incisors and a high prevalence of infection with Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and associated neutrophil functional abnormalities. Due to the frequent occurrence of this condition in families, it was the purpose of this investigation to determine the association of neutrophil chemotaxis abnormalities and clinical periodontal disease in families with LJP. Twenty‐two families were studied in which the proband was selected based upon presentation of LJP. All siblings were examined for the presence of LJP and neutrophil chemotaxis was measured on all subjects. The results indicate that there is a high association of LJP and neutrophil chemotaxis disorders and that this association is consistent along family lines. Specially, in families in which the proband exhibits a neutrophil chemotaxis disorder, all affected siblings (LJP) also exhibit depressed neutrophil chemotaxis, whereas, non‐affected siblings beyond the age of puberty have normal neutrophil chemotaxis. On the other hand, in families where the proband (LJP) exhibits normal chemotaxis, both normal and affected siblings exhibit normal chemotaxis. The finding among families with LJP that some exhibit neutrophil chemotactic depression and others exhibit normal neutrophils suggests heterogeneity of LJP. Accordingly, it is proposed that there is a syndrome of familial localized juvenile periodontitis with depressed neutrophil chemotaxis and another form of familial localized juvenile periodontitis with normal neutrophil chemotaxis. The chemotaxis disorder and LJP occur in nearly one‐half of the siblings in families with LJP. which is consistent with a dominant trait. however, multigenerational studies are necessary to determine the mode of inheritance. Hence, neutrophil chemotaxis is a disease marker which can be used in genetic studies of familial LJP with depressed neutrophil chemotaxis. Furthermore, prepubertal siblings often exhibit defective neutrophil chemotaxis in the families in which the proband exhibits such a defect. Since the prepubertal siblings are not affected by clinically detectable LJP, the finding of neutrophil chemotactic depression in these children further suggests that the neutrophil chemotactic defect is genetic in origin, precedes and may predispose to localized juvenile periodontitis.