ABSTRACT
Inflammatory mediators of periradicular lesions are poorly understood. Transforming growth factors-alpha and -beta 1 (TGF-alpha and TGF-beta 1) have been linked with the cellular processes for both soft and hard tissue wound healing. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the cellular sources of TGF-alpha and TGF-beta 1 mRNA and protein in periapical lesions by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. Nine periapical granulomas and nine periapical cysts were examined. TGF-alpha mRNA and protein were not detectable in the granulomas examined. However, eosinophils surrounding the periapical cysts demonstrated both TGF-alpha mRNA and protein. The vast majority of eosinophils present in the periapical granulomas and cysts also demonstrated TGF-beta 1 mRNA and protein. Other cells producing TGF-beta 1 were lymphocytes, fibroblasts, and monocytes. The presence of wound repair cytokines, such as TGF-alpha and TGF-beta 1, suggests a mechanism by which the host inflammatory response may participate in the repair and remodeling of periapical tissues.
Subject(s)
Periapical Granuloma/metabolism , Radicular Cyst/metabolism , Transforming Growth Factor alpha/biosynthesis , Transforming Growth Factor beta/biosynthesis , Adult , Eosinophils/metabolism , Female , Histocytochemistry , Humans , In Situ Hybridization , Inflammation Mediators , Male , Periapical Granuloma/blood , Periapical Granuloma/immunology , Radicular Cyst/blood , Radicular Cyst/immunology , Wound Healing/immunologyABSTRACT
Quantitation of circulating immune complexes (CIC) was done in 45 patients with chronic periapical lesions. The levels were compared with those of age-matched healthy individuals. Both patients with chronic periapical granuloma and periapical cysts showed significantly higher levels of CIC than the controls. This observation indicates that the continuous presence of root canal antigens may cause elevated levels of circulating immune complexes. The possibility of chronic periapical lesions acting as foci of infection is discussed, and the importance of early treatment of these conditions is emphasized.
Subject(s)
Antigen-Antibody Complex/blood , Periapical Granuloma/immunology , Radicular Cyst/immunology , Adult , Case-Control Studies , Chronic Disease , Humans , Periapical Granuloma/blood , Radicular Cyst/bloodABSTRACT
The fibrinolytic activity in the tissues of cystic lesions of jaw bones was investigated by the semiquantitative method of Astrup. The specimens examined were ameloblastoma (9 cases), follicular cyst (8 cases) and radicular cyst (14 cases). High fibrinolytic activity was observed in ameloblastoma, while in radicular cyst the activity was variable. It is suggested that in radicular cyst inflammatory episodes play an important role in activating local fibrinolysis, while in ameloblastoma the tissue itself has a great capacity to induce locally activated plasmin.
