Presence of interleukin-4-producing cells for human bone regeneration after application of guided tissue regeneration membranes

To study the process of bone regeneration we examined three samples of peri apical regenerative tissue obtained from two patients under a guided tissue regeneration treatment in endodontic surgery by the immunohistochemical an d enzyme histochemical methods. The regenerative tissue consisted of a larg e number of fibroblast-like cells and a small number of mononuclear cells. Fibroblastlike cells stained positively for alkaline phosphatase and osteop ontin, whereas mononuclear cells stained positively for CD4, Interleukin-4- producing cells could be detected in adjacent sections. However, interferon -gamma -producing cells could not be detected, These findings suggest that interleukin-4-producing cells may be one of the elements associated with su ccess in the human bone regeneration process in vivo.