An immunohistological study on cyclooxygenase-2 in human dental pulp.
Characteristics of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expressing cells in human dental pulp were immunohistologically studied. Extirpated pulpal tissues from extracted teeth were examined to elucidate the localization and distribution of COX-2. Pulpal tissues were examined by the labeled streptavidin biotin method using specific mouse monoclonal antibodies for COX-2. Cell types of the COX-2 expressing cells were also investigated by the double stain technique using both monoclonal antibodies for CD68/macrophage and anti-COX-2. COX-2 expressing cells could be found in all of the inflamed pulps, and these cells were mostly distributed close to the area of accumulation of inflammatory cells. COX-2 was mainly expressed in fibroblasts rather than macrophages. In contrast, COX-2 expressing cells were scarcely found in the normal pulps. These findings indicate that pulpal fibroblasts, as well as macrophages, may participate in the production of prostaglandin through COX-2 expression in pulpal inflammation, and might be involved in the pathogenesis of irreversible pulpitis.
Nakanishi
T
T
Department of Conservative Dentistry, School of Dentistry, The University of Tokushima, Japan.
Shimizu
H
H
Hosokawa
Y
Y
Matsuo
T
T
D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015703:Antigens, CD; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; D004396:Coloring Agents; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000201:enzymology; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000032:analysis*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000201:enzymology; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008875:Middle Aged; D010544:Peroxidases / Q000032:analysis*; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000032:analysis*; D011453:Prostaglandins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011671:Pulpitis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D000097382:CD68 Molecule
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015703:Antigens, CD; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; D004396:Coloring Agents; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D007527:Isoenzymes; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D010544:Peroxidases; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; D011453:Prostaglandins; C067980:CD68 antigen, human; D000097382:CD68 Molecule; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human