High numbers of T cells in gingiva from patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection

A quantitative, immunohistologic evaluation of CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ cells was carried out on gingival biopsies from 25 HIV-infected persons with gingivitis or periodontitis and 13 HIV-seronegative persons with periodontitis. CD3+ T cells were found in all biopsies. CD8+ cells were significantly more numerous and the CD4+/CD8+ ratio was significantly decreased in the gingival connective tissue of the HIV+ patients (p < 0.05). The number of CD4+ lymphocytes subjacent to the pocket epithelium was moderately lower in the HIV+ patients as compared to the HIV patients (p < 0.05). HIV+ patients with a history of necrotizing periodontal disease had fewer CD4+ cells subjacent to the oral gingival epithelium than patients without such disease (p < 0.05). The general HIV-related changes in T lymphocyte numbers were therefore reflected in inflamed gingival tissues. HIV+ patients had, however, significantly higher CD4+/CD8+ ratios in gingiva than in peripheral blood (p < 0.05), indicating that CD4+ T cells are actively recruited to gingiva, even in cases of extreme CD4+ T lymphocytopenia.