Immunohistochemical assessment of natural killer cells in normal and inflamed dental pulps

Immunohistological studies have shown the pulpal responses to bacteria and their product's inflammation, but presence of natural killer [NK] cells were unclear. This study detected NK cells in normal and inflamed pulps. From the third molars, 15 normal and 15 inflamed pulps were extirpated out and studied by indirect immune peroxides technique and microscope for NK cells. We did not find NK cells in normal coronal pulps, but they were detected in one third of inflamed coronal pulps. NK cells are absent in normal coronal pulps and present in the intensively inflamed pulps. They may play a role in the pathogenesis of pulp lesion

comparison of IL-2 in normal and symptomatic pulps

Normal healthy pulpal tissues were obtained from 19 impacted molars and symptomatic samples were obtained from 18 carious molars and premolars clinically diagnosed in all vital pulpal tissues. Student's t-test revealed significant differences in IL-2 concentrations, comparing symptomatic pulpal tissues with normal healthy samples [657, p<0.01]. These results suggest that IL -2 may serve as a marker of changes in pulp tissue