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Sterile extracts of whole human microbial plaque released substantial latent collagenolytic activity in gingival collagenase preparations, homogenates of polymorphonuclear leukocytes, and tissue macrophages. The plaque activation factor was thermolabile, nondialyzable, and had essentially no inherent collagenolytic activity.
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Robertson et al. (1974) studied this question.
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