title: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in healthy and inflamed human dental pulps.
abstract: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a glycoprotein that has the capability to increase vascular proliferation and permeability. VEGF has been found to be expressed in several different types of tumors, and it may contribute to the progression of malignant tumors. Immunostaining for VEGF and factor VIII was performed in normal healthy pulps and in irreversible pulpitis. In both cases the vessels were always positive for VEGF. Our immunohistochemical data show that the expression of VEGF was strongly positive in the inflammatory infiltrate in irreversible pulpitis. VEGF expression in the stromal cells in healthy pulps ranged from 20 to 100% (with a mean of 68.82), and in irreversible pulpitis ranged from 0 to 100% (with a mean of 62.35%); this difference was statistically significant (p = 0.05). This down-regulation in the stromal cells in irreversible pulpitis could be due to the presence, in a low compliance system such as the dental pulp, of inflammatory infiltrate. VEGF is probably a factor implicated in the etiology and progression of pulpitis. The microvessel density in healthy pulps was 90.00 +/- 27.5, while, in irreversible pulpitis, it was 56.68 +/- 21.15. This difference was statistically significant (p = 0.001). The decrease in microvessel density in irreversible pulpitis could be related to failing vascular function and blood flow decrease.
authors.affiliation: Dental School, University of Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Luciano
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Artese
authors.forename: Corrado
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rubini
authors.forename: Giuseppina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ferrero
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fioroni
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Santinelli
authors.forename: Adriano
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Piattelli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004396:Coloring Agents; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism*; D018450:Disease Progression; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005169:Factor VIII / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D011671:Pulpitis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology; D012044:Regression Analysis; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D008222:Lymphokines; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D005169:Factor VIII