Apoptosis in cyclosporin A-induced gingival overgrowth: a histological study.
BACKGROUND
Cyclosporin A (CsA) is known to induce gingival overgrowth. Apoptosis plays a critical role in the regulation of inflammation and the host immune response. The aim of this study was to investigate apoptosis in CsA-induced gingival enlargement using electron microscopy examination of keratinocytes.


METHODS
Gingiva specimens were collected from 12 CsA-treated renal transplant patients with gingival overgrowth and eight healthy controls with gingivitis. Clinical findings (probing depth, gingival index, and plaque index) were compared in the two groups. Histological and ultrastructural features of the specimens were also compared, and extent of keratinocyte apoptosis was scored on a three-tier scale: 0 = no apoptotic cells; 1 = one or two apoptotic cells; 2 = more than two cells.


RESULTS
There were no significant differences between groups with respect to gingiva-related clinical findings or extent of keratinocyte apoptosis.


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate that the extent of keratinocyte apoptosis in the gingiva of kidney recipients with CsA-induced gingival overgrowth is similar to that observed in inflamed gingiva of healthy individuals. Further studies on apoptosis of different cell types in the presence of CsA should clarify this agent's role in the pathogenesis of drug-induced gingival enlargement.
University of Başkent, Faculty of Dentisty, Department of Periodontology, Ankara, Turkey.
Emine Elif
EE
Alaaddinoglu
Gülten
G
Karabay
Sule
S
Bulut
Füsun Bahar
FB
Oduncuoglu
Handan
H
Ozdemir
Omer Engin
OE
Bulut
Turan
T
Colak
D000328:Adult; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D019214:Gingival Overgrowth / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology*; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000473:pathology; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine