Immune responses in women with periodontitis and preterm low birth weight: Levels of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in gingival granulation tissue.

•Macrophage levels in the gingival tissue of mothers with PLBW group were higher than healthy term and healthy control groups.•The increase of CD8+ T lymphocytes and CD4+/CD8+ ratio in maternal gingival tissue seems to be a risk factor of perinatal complications.•The number of CD8+ T lymphocytes and macrophages significantly increased in periodontitis.