T-cell subsets extracted from chronically inflamed periodontal tissues were identified using monoclonal antibodies, and their functional activity was analysed using the autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction (AMLR). Tissue was obtained from a total of 33 adult periodontitis (AP) patients and 6 normal/marginal gingivitis (N/MG) patients. All AP patients had received repeated oral hygiene instruction and root planing prior to the surgery, and the majority (30 out of 33) had at least one site with greater than 6 mm loss of attachment from the cementoenamel junction within the surgical field. The N/MG patients had no loss of attachment, and probing depths were less than 3 mm. Single cell suspensions were obtained following collagenase digestion (90 minutes at 37 degrees C) and mechanical disruption of the tissue. T-cell subsets were identified using an indirect immunofluorescence assay on cells obtained from 19 AP patients and the 6 N/MG patients. The mean (+/- standard error) helper:suppressor (T4:T8) ratio for the AP patients was found to be 0.94 +/- 0.48 compared with 1.65 +/- 0.16 for the N/MG group and 1.51 +/- 0.12 for peripheral blood controls. HLA-DR positive macrophages were identified and were found to include both acid phosphatase (AcP) positive and adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) positive populations. Functional analysis was carried out using cells extracted from the remaining 14 AP patients. Cells from six of these 14 patients were found to be capable of spontaneous proliferation. Co-culture experiments using autologous T and non-T populations revealed that cells from only four patients were able to respond in an AMLR while those from only one of the 14 patients were able to stimulate the AMLR.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)