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 e ndothelial cells and leukocytes, most of which are already covered by clust er of differentiation (CD) codes. We examined the expression of a variety o f endothelial cell adhesion molecules in human dental pulp vasculature to o btain further evidence on the tissue distribution and function of these mol ecules by using an indirect immunoperoxidase technique. We obtained the pul p tissue samples from teeth extracted due to orthodontic reasons as control s and compared with those extracted due to chronic periodontitis. In all sa mples, both CD31 and CD146 were expressed by arterial, venous, and capillar y endothelia. There was no significant difference between the staining inte nsity of normal and inflamed pulp tissues. CD102 expression on the endothel ium was significantly stronger in chronic periodontitis pulp samples. CD106 , CD62-E, CD62-P, CD105, and CD54 were variably expressed in control and ch ronic periodontitis groups. Our results indicate that CD102 represents the major endothelial cell adhesion molecule probably involved in the inflammat ory reactions in chronic periodontitis.