title: Role of TNF-alpha and its receptors in pericoronitis.
abstract: The classic stimulus for cellular cytokine production is bacterial lipopolysaccharide (endotoxin). It was therefore hypothesized that tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) may be responsible for pericoronitis. TNF-alpha and its receptors were detected by immunohistochemical staining in third molar pericoronitis in ten patients and ten healthy control samples. The percentage of TNF-alpha positive cells was high in pericoronitis (p = 0.0317). TNF receptors TNF-R1 and TNF-R2 were found in macrophage- and fibroblast-like cells, vascular endothelial cells in post-capillary venules, and basal epithelial cells in pericoronitis, but were only weakly expressed in controls. Increased expression of interleukin-1beta and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 was found as a biological indicator of TNF-alpha ligand-receptor interaction. Explanted tissues acquired destructive potential upon TNF-alpha stimulation, whereas TNF-alpha blockers controlled it in inflamed tissues. These findings suggest that, in pericoronitis, inflammatory and resident cells produce and respond to potent pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-alpha, with pathogenic and potential therapeutic relevance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine/Invärtes medicin, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Beklen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Laine
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ventä
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hyrkäs
authors.forename: Y T
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Konttinen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002196:Capillaries / Q000473:pathology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000473:pathology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000473:pathology; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000473:pathology; D005881:Gingiva / Q000166:cytology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000032:analysis; D008264:Macrophages / Q000473:pathology; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000032:analysis; D010497:Pericoronitis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000032:analysis*; D047888:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I / Q000032:analysis; D047889:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II / Q000032:analysis; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis* / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000032:analysis; D014699:Venules / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D007375:Interleukin-1; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D047888:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I; D047889:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9