Human lymphoproliferative reaction to food products. Possible role in periodontal inflammation.

Extracts of corn and some nuts were found to ubiquitously stimulate both adult and newborn cord blood lymphocytes to transform and produce a factor chemotactic for monocytes. This indicates that corn and nuts contain a mitogen and are potential stimulators of the cellular immune response. The exposure of lymphocytes to this mitogen in vivo might trigger a destructive inflammatory reaction in the surrounding tissues. These findings, therefore, suggest that foods such as corn and nuts may be responsible for some periodontal abscesses and may be contributing factors to the development of intrabony alveolar lesions and chronic periodontitis.