THE EFFECTS OF IMMUNOGLOBULINS ON THE CONVECTIVE PERMEABILITY OF HUMAN DENTIN IN-VITRO

Immunoglobulin molecules are localized in the dentinal tubules of non- carious and carious teeth, but their possible role in caries invasion is not understood. This study sought to examine the effects of immunog lobulin molecules on dentine permeability using a fluid-filtration met hod. Crown segments cut from impacted human third molars were treated by filtration with 100 mu g/ml IgG, 100 mu g/ml IgA or 30 mu g/ml IgM under a constant pressure. Flow rates were recorded and percent change s in flow rate analysed over time. Filtrates collected at various time s were tested for changes in immunoglobulin concentrations by an enzym e-linked immunosorbent assay, and the percent retention of immunoglobu lins to dentine was calculated. There was a decreasing non-linear expo nential relation between the percent changes in how rate and filtratio n time for all three immunoglobulins. The percentage of retained immun oglobulins was significantly related to the filtration lime for all th ree classes of immunoglobulins. Immunoglobulin retention contributed t o significant changes in flow rate with time. These in vitro results i ndicate the potential mechanism of immunoglobulins in decreasing tabul ar permeability. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.