Expression of beta 1 integrins in human dental pulp in vivo: a comparativeimmunohistochemical study on healthy and chronic marginal periodontitis samples

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.