title: Detection of vascular endothelial growth factor/ vascular permeability factor in periapical lesions.
abstract: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), also known as vascular permeability factor (VPF), is a multifunctional cytokine. It is overexpressed in several conditions, which are characterized by vascular hyperpermeability and angiogenesis. In this investigation, we have evaluated the possibility that VEGF/VPF could be expressed in periapical lesions. We studied 17 periapical granulomas and 6 periapical cysts by immunohistochemistry. An immunopositive reaction for VEGF/VPF was observed in all 23 periapical lesions; however, the intensity of immunostaining by anti-VEGF antibody varied according to histopathological findings. In periapical granulomas without epithelium, almost all of the inflammatory cells were immunoreactive to anti-VEGF/VIP antibody. In periapical granulomas, which had rests of Malassez in them, some inflammatory cells were stained. On the other hand, epithelial cells always were stained by VEGF/VPF antibody, both in periapical lesions with epithelium and in radicular cysts. This study demonstrated that periapical lesions express VEGF/VPF, although with some differences in cell immunolabeling, which correlated to the lesions' stages of development. Initially, VEGF/VPF would assure angiogenesis and vascular hyperpermeability, resulting in accumulation of inflammatory cells, later it could be involved in cyst fluid accumulation. We hypothesize, therefore, that VEGF/VPF expression plays an important role in the pathogenesis of periapical granulomas and enlargement of radicular cysts by several mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Cattedra di Ortognatodonzia, University of Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Leonardi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Caltabiano
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pagano
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pezzuto
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Loreto
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Palestro
mesh_terms: D000906:Antibodies; D002199:Capillary Permeability; D004396:Coloring Agents; D020420:Cyst Fluid / Q000166:cytology; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000032:analysis*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000473:pathology; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000473:pathology; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000032:analysis*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000473:pathology; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000473:pathology; D010483:Periapical Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D010484:Periapical Granuloma / Q000473:pathology; D010513:Periodontal Ligament / Q000473:pathology; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000473:pathology; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000032:analysis*; D011842:Radicular Cyst / Q000473:pathology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D004396:Coloring Agents; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008222:Lymphokines; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors