involucrin and Periodontitis

It has been suggested that human cultured gingival epithelial sheets may serve as a possible grafting material. The purpose of this study was to examine the biological characteristics of human cultured gingival epithelial sheets by epithelial differentiation and proliferation markers. Immunohistochemical localization of cytokeratin 19, involucrin and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) were examined in human cultured gingival epithelial sheets samples from twenty patients. Cytokeratin 19-immunopositive cells were scattered mainly in the suprabasal layer. Immunoreactivity for involucrin was observed in all layers except for the basal layer. The majority of proliferating cell nuclear antigen-immunopositive cells was found in the basal layer. These results suggested that the cultured human gingival epithelial sheets were biologically active and in proliferative condition, which implies that this biological product may be a potential grafting material.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Biomarkers; Cell Differentiation; Cell Proliferation; Cells, Cultured; Epithelial Cells; Female; Gingiva; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Keratins; Male; Middle Aged; Periodontitis; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; Protein Precursors

The structural integrity and functional differentiation of the lining epithelium were studied in relation to inflammatory changes associated with destructive periodontitis. In the different regions of lining epithelia from clinically healthy gingiva and periodontitis, comparisons were made of the expression patterns of E-cadherin, which is critical in intercellular adhesion; of proteins associated with gap junction communication channels; and of involucrin, which is a key marker of differentiation in stratified epithelia. Filamentous actin (F-actin), which is important in cell structural integrity, attachment, and migration, was also examined. Semiquantitative immunohistochemical analysis revealed that in both clinically healthy gingiva and lesions of advanced periodontitis, expression patterns of E-cadherin, involucrin, and connexins 26 and 43 were similar, with a statistically significant reduction in staining intensity from the external oral epithelium, through the gingival sulcus, to the junctional epithelium or pocket epithelium, respectively. Furthermore, there was a striking reduction in staining for E-cadherin, involucrin, and both connexins in the pathological lining epithelium of the periodontal pocket. These changes were associated with marked alterations of filamentous actin expression, collectively indicating profound perturbation of the epithelial structure. The data reported support the concept that the ability of the pathological lining epithelium to function as an effective barrier against the ingress of microbial products into the tissues is severely compromised.

Topics: Actins; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cadherins; Connexins; Epithelium; Female; Gingiva; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Male; Microscopy, Fluorescence; Middle Aged; Periodontitis; Protein Precursors; Proteins