Expression of beta 1 integrins in human dental pulp in vivo: a comparativeimmunohistochemical study on healthy and chronic marginal periodontitis samples
F. Tasman et al., Expression of beta 1 integrins in human dental pulp in vivo: a comparativeimmunohistochemical study on healthy and chronic marginal periodontitis samples, INT ENDOD J, 34(1), 2001, pp. 11-15
Aim The objective of this study was to determine the tissue distribution of
beta1 integrin chains in sound human dental pulps and to compare the findi
ngs 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 ort
hodontic reasons were examined and compared to samples from teeth extracted
due to chronic (marginal) periodontitis. beta1 integrin chains were determ
ined using an indirect-immunoperoxidase technique. Seven monoclonal antibod
ies recognizing alpha1, alpha2, alpha3, alpha4, alpha5, alpha6 and beta1 ch
ains of Very Late Activation Antigen (VLA) integrins were used for this pur
pose.
Results VLA-1. VLA-2, VLA-3 and VLA-5 were expressed by vascular endotheliu
m and vascular smooth muscle in varying intensities in both groups. VLA-6,
reactivity was observed in the basal surfaces of arterial, venous and capil
lary endothelia. Our results indicate that there was no significant differe
nce in the expression of VLA integrins in sound pulp tissue when compared t
o the samples from chronic (marginal) periodontitis and the connective tiss
ue compartments of other viscera.
Conclusion The present findings suggest that human dental pulp tissue is no
t different from other connective tissue compartments in the body with resp
ect to VLA integrin expression. and chronic marginal periodontitis does not
affect pulp tissue to a histopathologically detectable extent.