Increased interleukin-8 expression in inflamed human dental pulps.
OBJECTIVE
Elevated levels of interleukin-8, a potent chemoattractant and activator of neutrophils, are associated with infectious and inflammatory diseases. However, little is known about interleukin-8 expression in human dental pulp. The purpose of this study was to determine whether tissue levels of interleukin-8 are elevated in irreversibly inflamed human pulps.


METHODS
Experimental samples were from teeth clinically diagnosed with irreversible pulpitis (diseased pulps). Controls were from freshly extracted, caries-free third molars (normal pulps). Samples were subjected to enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and/or immunohistochemical analysis with specific antibodies to interleukin-8.


RESULTS
The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay studies showed elevated levels of interleukin-8 in diseased pulps (mean, 1.82+/-0.79 pg/mL/microg protein), as compared to detectable interleukin-8 levels in samples from normal pulps (mean, 0.08+/-0.04 pg/mL/microg protein; P<.05). Immunohistochemical analyses demonstrated that diseased samples exhibited a higher density of localized interleukin-8 staining in areas with heavy infiltration of inflammatory cells. In contrast, normal pulps showed negative or weak interleukin-8 staining.


CONCLUSIONS
Interleukin-8 concentration was higher in pulps diagnosed with irreversible pulpitis; only negligible amounts of interleukin-8 were present in normal pulps.
Huang
G T
GT
Section of Oral Biology and Dental Research Institute, UCLA School of Dentistry, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1668. USA.
Potente
A P
AP
Kim
J W
JW
Chugal
N
N
Zhang
X
X
D000906:Antibodies; D004396:Coloring Agents; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D008964:Molar, Third; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D011671:Pulpitis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
D000906:Antibodies; D004396:Coloring Agents; D016209:Interleukin-8; D011506:Proteins