NEUTROPHIL SURFACE PROTEIN MARKERS AS INDICATORS OF DEFECTIVE CHEMOTAXIS IN LJP

Abnormalities of neutrophil function have been highly correlated with severe, early onset periodontal diseases. Nonetheless, the identification of these patients and diagnosis of specific disease states, such as LJP or prepubertal periodontitis, are difficult and costly. In this report, the identification and quantification of neutrophil cell surface markers specific to LJP patients with neutrophil chemotaxis defects are described. GP110 and FMLP receptors were quantified by flow cytometry on neutrophils from LJP patients with neutrophil chemotaxis defects, LJP patients without chemotaxis defects, other patients with primary neutrophil chemotaxis defects, and controls. Results suggest that reduction of GP110 and FMLP receptor on neutrophils is specific for LJP patients who exhibit neutrophil chemotaxis abnormalities.