DETECTION OF EPIDERMAL GROWTH-FACTOR RECEPTOR IN INFLAMMATORY PERIAPICAL LESIONS

Epithelial cell proliferation is often observed in periapical lesions of endodontic origin, The mechanisms which stimulate the epithelial ce ll rests of Malassez to proliferate are not understood fully, fifteen inflammatory periapical lesions (10 granulomas and five cysts) obtaine d from periapical surgery and six additional periapical lesions (four granulomas and two cysts) collected from extracted teeth were examined using immunohistochemical staining and I-125-EGF (epidermal growth fa ctor) binding assay to detect the presence of epidermal growth factor receptor, The results indicated that the periapical lesions without ep ithelial cell proliferation had a weak immunoperoxidase staining or lo w specific binding of I-125-EGF. In contrast, the periapical lesions w ith epithelial cell proliferation and cyst formation exhibited a stron g immunoperoxidase staining in the epithelial cells or high specific b inding of I-125-EGF.