Local immunoglobulin synthesis in periodontal disease

The inflammatory lesions in advanced periodontal disease are characterized by a plasma cell infiltrate. In vitro synthesis of immunoglobulins (Ig) was detected by incorporation of 14 C‐lysine and 14 C‐isoleucine combined with immunoelectrophoresis and autoradiog‐raphy. IgG and IgA but not IgM synthesis was detected in chronically inflamed gingival tissues. No Ig synthesis was detected in histologically normal gingival tissue cultured under the same conditions or in predominantly fibrotic tissue. These results directly indicate that local synthesis does occur in diseased gingival tissues, suggesting that not all of the immunoglobulin in the gingival sulcus and gingival tissues are derived from the circulation.