Expression of endothelial adhesion molecules in the alveolar ridge mucosa, gingiva and periimplant mucosa.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to analyze the expression of adhesion molecules on endothelial cells in the alveolar ridge mucosa, the gingiva and the periimplant mucosa in humans.


METHODS
Twelve partially edentulous subjects were included in the study. In each subject, one soft tissue biopsy was harvested from the edentulous alveolar ridge mucosa, one from a tooth site and one from an implant site. After 3 weeks of undisturbed plaque accumulation, an additional biopsy was obtained from one tooth and one implant site in each subject. The tissue samples were snap frozen and prepared for immunohistochemical analysis.


RESULTS
In the alveolar ridge mucosa, smaller proportions of endothelial cells expressing ICAM-1, ELAM-1 and VCAM-1 were observed than in the gingiva. ELAM-1-positive cells occurred in lower numbers than in periimplant mucosa. After 21 days of plaque accumulation, ELAM-1 was increased in tooth sites, but decreased in periimplant mucosa.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of the present study indicated that the proportions of activated endothelial cells and the extravasation of leukocytes is larger in gingiva and periimplant mucosa than in alveolar ridge mucosa. This might be due to the less permeable keratinized epithelial layer in the edentulous ridge mucosa, which offers proper protection against microbial pathogens. The greater expression of endothelial cell adhesion molecules during experimental gingivitis, compared to periimplant mucositis, may reflect its longer history of repeated antigenic assaults.
Zitzmann
N U
NU
Clinic of Fixed and Removable Prosthodontics and TMJ Disorders, University of Basel, Switzerland.
Berglundh
T
T
Marinello
C P
CP
Lindhe
J
J
D000368:Aged; D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000473:pathology; D015921:Dental Implants; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology; D019040:E-Selectin / Q000032:analysis*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D004846:Epithelial Attachment / Q000473:pathology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005881:Gingiva / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000032:analysis*; D007576:Jaw, Edentulous, Partially / Q000473:pathology; D007633:Keratins; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D016555:Matched-Pair Analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000032:analysis*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015921:Dental Implants; D019040:E-Selectin; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D007633:Keratins