title: Characterization of inflammatory cell infiltrate in dental periapical lesions.
abstract: Sixty-three dental periapical lesions were investigated in order to study the involvement of inflammatory and immunologic reactions in the pathogenesis and maintenance of chronic apical periodontitis. Of 61 well-preserved specimens, 38 were classified as granulomatous, 3 as exudative periapical granulomas and 20 as periapical scars. The quantitative composition of T-lymphocyte subpopulation and macrophages, the proportion of IgE-producing cells compared with other immunoglobulin producing plasma cells, and the tissue distribution of IgE-producing plasma cells compared with that of mast cells were determined in the granulomatous types of granulomas using immunofluorescent, immunohistochemical and enzymehistochemical methods. The results indicated a decreased ratio of helper/inducer versus cytotoxic/suppressor T-lymphocytes, a remarkably high proportion of macrophages, a low frequency of IgE-producing plasma cells with different localization when compared with that of mast cells. These observations suggest that T-lymphocytes and macrophages may play an important role in the complex events of tissue destruction and repair taking place in the periapical region.
authors.affiliation: Stomatologic Clinic, Medical University of Debrecen, Hungary.
authors.forename: I J
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Marton
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kiss
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000032:analysis; D008264:Macrophages; D008407:Mast Cells; D010484:Periapical Granuloma / Q000276:immunology*; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000276:immunology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D007073:Immunoglobulin E