title: An immunohistochemical study of osteoprotegerin in the human dental pulp.
abstract: This study investigated the expression of osteoprotegerin (OPG) in healthy and inflamed dental pulps. Histological sections 7 microm thick of 47 teeth, either caries-free or affected by gross caries, were used. Sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin, and other sections of the same specimen were subjected to the avidin-biotin peroxidase complex immunohistochemical procedure for detection of OPG. The study focused on the coronal pulp that was divided into peripheral and central regions. In the peripheral pulp healthy and inflamed specimens showed high OPG immunoreactivity of the odontoblastic layer. When no inflammation was present in the central pulp OPG immunoreactivity was light. Fibroblasts and endothelial cells showed immunoreactivity ranging from none to intense. When inflammation was present in the central pulp the chronic inflammatory cells showed intense immunoreactivity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, Indiana University School of Dentistry, Indianapolis 46202-5186, USA.
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Kuntz
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Legan
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Kafrawy
mesh_terms: D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004396:Coloring Agents; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000473:pathology; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000473:pathology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000473:pathology; D004801:Eosine Yellowish-(YS); D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000473:pathology; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis*; D006416:Hematoxylin; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000473:pathology; D009804:Odontoblasts / Q000473:pathology; D053244:Osteoprotegerin; D011671:Pulpitis / Q000473:pathology; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000032:analysis*; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006023:Glycoproteins; D053244:Osteoprotegerin; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; C506030:TNFRSF11B protein, human; D004801:Eosine Yellowish-(YS); D006416:Hematoxylin