Lymphoproliferative responses induced by streptococcal antigens in recurrent aphthous stomatitis and Behcet's syndrome

Abstract

The generation of cellular immune responses to antigens associated with Streptococcus sanguis type 2A has been implicated as a pathogenic mechanism in recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS). The blastogenic responses of peripheral blood lymphocytes to soluble antigens from S. sanguis were measured during active episodes of oral ulceration and during periods of remission. Whole, heat-killed streptococci, sterile culture filtrates, and carbohydrate and protein extracts stimulated RAS lymphocytes in a dose-dependent fashion. However, responses by RAS lymphocytes were comparable in magnitude to those observed in normal controls and alterations in these responses did not occur throughout the course of the disease. Furthermore, no positive correlation between RAS and S. sanguis could be made since RAS lymphocytes were stimulated to a similar extent by antigen preparations derived from S. mutans. These results indicate that cellular hypersensitivity to S. sanguis may not be a distinguishing feature of RAS.