Expression of beta 1 integrins in human dental pulp in vivo: a comparative immunohistochemical study on healthy and chronic marginal periodontitis samples.

AIM: The objective of this study was to determine the tissue distribution of beta 1 integrin chains in sound human dental pulps and to compare the findings with connective tissue compartments of other organs and to pulp tissue in teeth extracted due to periodontal disease. METHODOLOGY: Freshly frozen pulp tissue samples from teeth extracted for orthodontic reasons were examined and compared to samples from teeth extracted due to chronic (marginal) periodontitis. beta 1 integrin chains were determined using an indirect-immunoperoxidase technique. Seven monoclonal antibodies recognizing alpha 1, alpha 2, alpha 3, alpha 4, alpha 5, alpha 6 and beta 1 chains of Very Late Activation Antigen (VLA) integrins were used for this purpose. RESULTS: VLA-1, VLA-2, VLA-3 and VLA-5 were expressed by vascular endothelium and vascular smooth muscle in varying intensities in both groups. VLA-6 reactivity was observed in the basal surfaces of arterial, venous and capillary endothelia. Our results indicate that there was no significant difference in the expression of VLA integrins in sound pulp tissue when compared to the samples from chronic (marginal) periodontitis and the connective tissue compartments of other viscera. CONCLUSION: The present findings suggest that human dental pulp tissue is not different from other connective tissue compartments in the body with respect to VLA integrin expression, and chronic marginal periodontitis does not affect pulp tissue to a histopathologically detectable extent.

Endothelial cell and stromal antigens in human periapical granulation tissue.

Periapical granulation tissue consists of vasculature of varying sizes and types, infiltrating cells, and other stromal elements. We examined the differential expression of endothelial and stroma antigens in this tissue to determine their tissue distribution in order to obtain hints on their functions. Some of the antigens examined were present only in the endothelial lining of vasculature, including high endothelial venules (e.g. CD31 and CD105), whereas others were more widely expressed by both vascular and stromal elements (e.g. CD29, CD63, CD44, and CD151). Immunohistochemical analysis using monoclonal antibodies specific to certain tissue compartments revealed the tissue architecture more precisely and the expression of certain antigens in the tissue suggested special roles for these antigens. Tissue distribution of CD63, CD143, CD147, and CD151 in periapical granulation tissue is first reported in the present study.

CD45/isotypes expression in the immune cells of human periapical lesions.

Expression of some leukocyte antigens (including CD45) and its isoforms (CD2, CD4, CD5, CD6, CD7, and CD8) was examined in the human periapical granulation tissue samples in the present study. The majority of the infiltrating cells expressed heavy molecular-weight isoforms of the CD45 antigen. Expression of CD2, CD5, CD6, and CD7 antigens was also detected, implying significant roles for these antigens in the immune reaction taking place in periapical lesions. This suggests that the immune response taking place at the periapical region is predominantly cellular and the humoral responses to antigenic challenge are conducted mainly by regional lymph nodes.

Histopathological evaluation of the dental pulps in crown-fractured teeth.

Trauma is a common cause of pulpal damage. In traumatic injuries, the first priority is to protect the vitality of pulps. But the time between the trauma and treatment must be short to preserve vital, noninflamed pulps. The aim of this study was to investigate the histopathological changes in pulpal tissues at different time periods after crown fractures. Twenty-three teeth with enamel and dentin fractures, with and without pulp exposure were evaluated. The reasons for seeking dental treatment were aesthetic consideration, pain, or discomfort. The extirpated pulps were histologically prepared for microscopical evaluation. There was myelin degeneration surrounding the axons and edema in the early posttraumatic stages (17 h). In the later stages (4 to 20 days), the tissues showed varying degrees of inflammation, and neuronal degeneration such as intramyelin edema, aberrant myelin synthesis, and axonal swelling.

Endothelial cell adhesion molecules in human dental pulp: a comparative immunohistochemical study on chronic periodontitis.

Migration of leukocytes to inflammation sites through vascular endothelium is controlled by the interactions of adhesion molecules expressed on both endothelial cells and leukocytes, most of which are already covered by cluster of differentiation (CD) codes. We examined the expression of a variety of endothelial cell adhesion molecules in human dental pulp vasculature to obtain further evidence on the tissue distribution and function of these molecules by using an indirect immunoperoxidase technique. We obtained the pulp tissue samples from teeth extracted due to orthodontic reasons as controls and compared with those extracted due to chronic periodontitis. In all samples, both CD31 and CD146 were expressed by arterial, venous, and capillary endothelia. There was no significant difference between the staining intensity of normal and inflamed pulp tissues. CD102 expression on the endothelium was significantly stronger in chronic periodontitis pulp samples. CD106, CD62-E, CD62-P, CD105, and CD54 were variably expressed in control and chronic periodontitis groups. Our results indicate that CD102 represents the major endothelial cell adhesion molecule probably involved in the inflammatory reactions in chronic periodontitis.