[The distribution of intermediate filaments, histiocytic antigens and neural crest-related antigens in the adult dental pulp. An immunocytochemical approach].
METHODS
Ten human healthy teeth were extracted for orthodontic or surgical purposes and processed for histological and immunocytochemical examination with the streptavidin-biotin-peroxidase method. Highly purified antibodies were used to reveal the distribution of intermediate filaments (vimentin, desmin, alpha-smooth muscle actin), histiocytic antigens (alpha-1-antitrypsin, lysozyme), neural and neural-crest-associated antigens (neuron-specific enolase, chromogranin-A, S-100, synaptophysin, glial fibrillary acidic protein, neurofilaments) in the adult pulp tissue.


RESULTS
Vimentin immunostaining was strongly positive in the network of pulpal fibroblasts. Desmin and alpha-smooth muscle actin were present only in the vessel walls. Staining for alpha-1-antitrypsin and lysozyme reveals a number of macrophage-like cells in the central portion of the pulp. Macrophages were the most dominating immunocompetent cells. Negative immunostaining for chromogranin-A demonstrated the absence of neuroendocrine antigens in the adult dental pulp. Immunostaining for neuron-specific enolase, S-100 protein, synaptophysin, glial fibrillary acidic protein and neurofilaments were positive, with different intensity, in nerve fibres, but no pulp cell was found to be immunoreactive.


CONCLUSIONS
The conclusion is drawn that the lack of labelling of pulp cells by the neural associated antibodies could be due to differentiation processes during tissue development.
Pannone
G
G
Instituto di Discipline Odontostomatologiche, Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Napoli.
Bucci
P
P
Lo Muzio
L
L
Canfora
M
M
Cocozza
G
G
Staibano
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000941:Antigens / Q000378:metabolism*; D001641:Bicuspid; D003481:Cuspid; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006644:Histiocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007382:Intermediate Filaments / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009432:Neural Crest / Q000276:immunology*
D000941:Antigens
Distribuzione di filamenti intermedi, antigeni istiocitari e antigeni correlati alla cresta neurale nella polpa dentaria dell'adulto. Approccio immunocitochimico.