title: Epithelial lining of sinus tracts associated with periapical disease: an immunocytochemical study using monoclonal antibodies to keratins.
abstract: We examined 30 specimens of mucosal sinus tracts arising in association with periapical inflammation. Immunocytochemistry and a panel of monoclonal antibodies to keratins were used to demonstrate the epithelial lining and its pattern of keratin expression. Half of the specimens were found to have an epithelial lining that was continuous with the mucosal epithelium and showed various degrees of extension into the sinus. The presence of an epithelial lining appeared to correlate with the duration of the sinus tracts. The immunostaining patterns of the epithelial linings were similar to those of the mucosal epithelium near the sinus opening although some differences were found. Proliferating strands of epithelium, presumably derived from the rest of Malassez, were observed deep in the tissues but were not continuous with the epithelial lining. The results suggest that the epithelial lining of sinus tracts is derived not from epithelial rests in the periapical region but from the mucosal epithelium adjacent to the opening of the sinus tract and that the observed changes in the pattern of keratinization are due to the influence of inflammation or of the connective tissue substrate.
authors.affiliation: Dental Science Institute, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: I C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Mackenzie
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shi
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D003751:Dental Fistula / Q000473:pathology*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000473:pathology; D007633:Keratins / Q000032:analysis; D010483:Periapical Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D010513:Periodontal Ligament / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D013194:Staining and Labeling
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D007633:Keratins