Longitudinal Assessment of Complement Components C3, C4, And B and their Cleavage Products in Gingival Fluid Before and After Treatment of Chronic Periodontitis in Humans
The complement system plays an important role in the initiation of acute and chronic inflammation. Activation of the cornplement cascade may lead to tissue damage by chemotactic attraction and changes in the activity of polymorphonuclear leukocytes which may release damaging proteolytic enzymes, deg...
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| Format: | Dissertation |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
ProQuest Dissertations & Theses
01-01-1983
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| Online Access: | Get full text |
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| Summary: | The complement system plays an important role in the initiation of acute and chronic inflammation. Activation of the cornplement cascade may lead to tissue damage by chemotactic attraction and changes in the activity of polymorphonuclear leukocytes which may release damaging proteolytic enzymes, degranulation of mast cells and complement-mediated lysis of tissue cells. In addition, complement activation may stimulate osteoclastic bone resorption, the production of lymphokines and increased differentiation of B-lymphocytes. Destruction of connective tissue and bone are prominet, features in periodontal disease and emphasi.ze the potential importance of complement activation in this disease process.Evidence exists that complement activation occurs in periodontal disease. Native C3 and C4 are reduced in gingival fluid compared to serum in patients with severe periodontal disease (Schenkein and Genco 1977a, Attstrom et al. 1975). Complement activation may occur consequent to antigen-antibody reaction or by several alternative means. Cleavage of C3 in gingival fluid by the alternative and/or classical pathways or by direct enzymatic conversion is suggested by the presence of the conversion product C3c (Attstrom et al. 1975, Schenkein and Genco 1977a) and C3d (Schenkein and Genco 1977b) in gingival fluid.These previous studies indicate that complement cleavage occurs in very severe periodontal disease. These investigations, however, were conducted only in patients with severe periodontitis. Due to the small amounts of gingival fluid obtainable from mildly inflamed tissues, no longitudinal studies of complement activation have been reported. The new measurement technique utilizing filter paper strips presented in this manuscript allows measurement of complement cleavage by crossed-immunoelectrophoresis from gingival fluid samples taken from areas of minimal inflammation. In addition, modification of this technique by the Master’s candidate allows the simultaneous measurement by of C3, C4, B and their cleavage products from a gingival fluid sample as small as 0.2 ul. This technique allows longitudinal studies of complement cleavage in periodontal disease. |
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| ISBN: | 9798382846712 |