Archives of Biological Sciences 2014 Volume 66, Issue 2, Pages: 801-809
https://doi.org/10.2298/ABS1402801P
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Mast cells as key players in periodontal disease
Popovici Ramona Amina (“Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Department of Preventive Dental Medicine, Timisoara, Romania)
Ceausu Raluca Amalia (“Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Center of Angiogenesis Research, Department of Microscopic Morphology/Histology, Timisoara, Romania)
Cimpean Anca Maria (“Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Center of Angiogenesis Research, Department of Microscopic Morphology/Histology, Timisoara, Romania)
Serban Talpos (“Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Department of Oral Surgery, Timisoara, Romania)
Raica Marius (“Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Center of Angiogenesis Research, Department of Microscopic Morphology/Histology, Timisoara, Romania)
Gaje Pusa Nela (“Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Center of Angiogenesis Research, Department of Microscopic Morphology/Histology, Timisoara, Romania)
Mast cell (MC) active mediators promote inflammation through changes induced
in the connective tissue components of human gingiva. The aim of this study
was to evaluate the distribution, mast cell density and their relationship
with the degree of inflammatory infiltrate in gingiva from patients with
periodontal disease. Thirty-nine cases with periodontal disease and 12 cases
without significant changes to the gingival mucosa were investigated. MCs
were identified on paraffin-embedded specimens by immunohistochemistry using
anti-mast cell tryptase. The inflammatory infiltrate was scored from 0 to 3,
and the MCs were counted using the hotspot method. Intraepithelial MCs were
scored from 0 to 2. We found a significant increase of mast cell density in
cases with mild and moderate inflammatory changes, and a slight decrease in
patients with severe periodontal disease. We noticed a higher degranulation
rate in patients with periodontal disease compared to those with healthy
mucosa. Intraepithelial MCs were found in cases with periodontal disease only
and were correlated with the severity of the inflammatory lesion. MCs are
important cellular components of the early stages of periodontal disease.
Contrary to other studies, we found that MC density and activation increases
with moderate inflammation but decreases in severe inflammatory lesions. Our
data suggest that MCs are key players in the progression of inflammatory
lesions of the gingiva. In advanced-stage periodontal disease,
intraepithelial MCs apparently play an important role, although their
biological significance remains to be fully understood.
Keywords: Mast cell, periodontal disease, gingiva, tryptase