title: The upregulation of matrix metalloproteinase-9 in inflamed human dental pulps.
abstract: The matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) participate in a wide variety of extracellular matrix degradation. Detailed knowledge of MMPs may be important for understanding the pathogenesis of pulpal inflammation. The purpose of this study was to compare MMP-9 expression in clinically healthy human pulp and inflamed human pulp tissue specimens. We compared the levels of MMP-9 between clinically healthy pulp and inflamed pulp tissues by using the semi-quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction analysis. In addition, immunohistochemistry was used to identify the in situ localization of MMP-9 expression in pulp specimens. MMP-9 mRNA gene was found to be increased in inflamed pulps as compared with clinically healthy pulp tissues (p < 0.05). The results from immunohistochemistry demonstrated that MMP-9 expression was significantly higher in the inflamed pulps than clinically healthy pulps (p < 0.05). MMP-9 stain was detected in the odontoblasts, fibroblasts, inflammatory infiltrates, and endothelial cells. Taken together, MMP-9 may play an important role in the pathogenesis of pulpal inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chung-Hung
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Yi-Juai
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Fu-Mei
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Ying-Fang
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Yu-Chao
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D004396:Coloring Agents; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000378:metabolism*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D009804:Odontoblasts / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011671:Pulpitis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9