Aspartate aminotransferase activity in human healthy and inflamed dental pulps

Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) seems to be an important mediator of infla mmatory processes, Its role in the progression and detection of inflammator y periodontal disease has been increasingly recognized in recent years. In the present study AST activity was analyzed in normal healthy human dental pulps, in reversible pulpitis, and in irreversible pulpitis. Enzymatic AST activity showed that the control values for the healthy pulps were 4.8 +/- 0.7 units/mg of pulp tissue, In reversible pulpitis specimens the AST activ ity increased to 7.98 +/- 2.1 units/mg of pulp tissue. In irreversible pulp itis specimens the values decreased to 2.28 +/- 1.7 units/mg of pulp tissue , Differences between the groups (control versus reversible pulpitis and re versible pulpitis versus irreversible pulpitis) were statistically signific ant (p = 0.0015), These results could point to a role of AST in the early e vents that lead to development of pulpal inflammation.