An immunohistochemical study of HLA-DR and alpha 1-antichymotrypsin-positive cells in the pulp of human non-carious and carious teeth.
The condition of the pulp tissue was classified into seven groups according to the progression of carious lesions from stages S0 (non-carious teeth) to S6 (exposed pulp). There was a small number of anti-HLA-DR antibody-positive cells in the pulp of the early carious teeth, and a markedly increased number at S5 and S6. The recruitment of a large number of anti-HLA-DR cells concomitant with a marked increase of other kinds of immunocompetent cells in the pulp of late-stage caries might indicate the occurrence of antigen presentation followed by both cell-mediated and humoral immune reactions. The number of anti-alpha 1-antichymotrypsin (ACT) antibody-positive macrophages showed a proportional increase with the development of caries, and these cells may be involved in protecting against the tissue damage caused by proteases released from inflammatory cells, as well as having a defensive role by phagocytosis of toxic micro-organisms and damaged tissue residues. Thus anti-HLA-DR and anti-ACT antibody-positive cells might participate in both an efficient immune system and a tissue-protective mechanism in the human dental pulp.
Izumi
T
T
First Department of Conservative Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Fukuoka Dental College, Japan.
Kobayashi
I
I
Okamura
K
K
Matsuo
K
K
Kiyoshima
T
T
Ishibashi
Y
Y
Inoue
H
H
Sakai
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology*; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008264:Macrophages; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015842:Serine Proteinase Inhibitors / Q000032:analysis; D000514:alpha 1-Antichymotrypsin / Q000032:analysis
D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D015842:Serine Proteinase Inhibitors; D000514:alpha 1-Antichymotrypsin