DETECTION OF HUMAN IL-2 IN NORMAL AND INFLAMED DENTAL PULPS

Irreversible pulpitis has been associated with an increase in the numb er of pulpal T-cells. Interleukin-2 (IL-2) stimulates T-cell prolifera tion and signals the release of other proinflammatory mediators associ ated with connective tissue degradation. IL-2 has been suggested to be a useful marker of pathologic inflammatory activity in periodontal an d systemic disease conditions. The purpose of this study was to analyz e normal and inflamed dental pulps for the presence of immunoreactive IL-2 (iIL-2). Normal healthy pulpal tissue was obtained from 17 impact ed third molars and inflamed samples were obtained from 12 symptomatic carious molars clinically diagnosed with irreversible pulpitis, Pulpa l tissues were collected, prepared, and analyzed for histological stat us and iIL-2 concentration by a modified ELISA technique, iIL-2 was de tected in all vital pulpal tissues. A t-test revealed significant diff erences in iIL-2 concentrations when inflamed pulpal tissues were comp ared to normal healthy samples (T = -2.75, p < 0.05). These results su ggest that iIL-2 may serve as a marker of pathologic inflammatory acti vity in irreversible pulpitis.