RESUMO
Abstract: The aim of this study was to use microscopic and molecular techniques to evaluate the effects of a single session of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) on the alveolar repair process after tooth extraction in rats. The study sample included 84 rats divided into four groups, as follows: a) Control - untreated socket; b) Laser - socket treated using photobiomodulation; c) TBO - socket treated with topic application of the photosensitizer agent, toluidine blue O (TBO); and d) aPDT - socket treated with TBO and laser irradiation. An additional rat was used for thermal mapping during socket irradiation. The animals were euthanatized at 6, 15, and 28 days after unilateral extraction of the upper incisor. Quantitative and qualitative analyses of the connective and bone tissues, blood clot, blood vessel, and inflammatory infiltrate were performed, and real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to study the expression of genes (collagen type I, osteocalcin, alkaline phosphatase [ALP], runt-related transcription factor 2 [RUNX2], and vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF]) involved in the bone healing process. No statistically significant differences in microscopic and molecular outcomes were observed between the groups (p > 0.05). A positive correlation was seen to exist between blood clot and VEGF (p = 0.000), and a negative correlation was observed between bone tissue and ALP (p = 0.028) and blood vessel and VEGF (p = 0.018). A single session of aPDT in the dental extraction site did not influence the alveolar repair process in rats.
RESUMO
Previous studies demonstrate that the balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators determines the stable or progressive nature of periapical granulomas by modulating the balance of the osteoclastogenic factor RANKL and its antagonist OPG. However, the cytokine networks operating in the development of periapical lesions are quite more complex than what the simple pro- versus anti-inflammatory mediators' paradigm suggests. Here we simultaneously investigated the patterns of Th1, Th2, Th9, Th17, Th22, Thf, Tr1 and Tregs cytokines/markers expression in human periapical granulomas. Methods: The expression of TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-17A, IL23, IL21, IL-33, IL-10, IL-4, IL-9, IL-22, FOXp3 markers (via RealTimePCR array) was accessed in active/progressive (N=40) versus inactive/stable (N=70) periapical granulomas (as determined by RANKL/OPG expression ratio), and also to compare these samples with a panel of control specimens (N=26). A cluster analysis of 13 cytokine levels was performed to examine possible clustering between the cytokines in a total of 110 granulomas. Results: The expression of all target cytokines was higher in the granulomas than in control samples. TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-17A and IL-21 mRNA levels were significantly higher in active granulomas, while in inactive lesions the expression levels of IL-4, IL-9, IL-10, IL-22 and FOXp3 were higher than in active granulomas. Five clusters were identified in inactive lesion groups, being the variance in the expression levels of IL-17, IL-10, FOXp3, IFN-γ, IL-9, IL-33 and IL-4 statistically significant (KW p<0.05). Three clusters were identified in active lesions, being the variance in the expression levels of IL-22, IL-10, IFN-γ, IL-17, IL-33, FOXp3, IL-21 and RANKL statistically significant (KW p<0.05). Conclusion: There is a clear dichotomy in the profile of cytokine expression in inactive and active periapical lesions. While the widespread ...