Human cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus and bone resorption-inducing cytokines in periapical lesions of deciduous teeth.
BACKGROUND
A connection of herpesvirus periapical infection with symptomatic and large-size periapical lesions has been recognized in adult patients, but no data exist about a possible involvement of herpesviruses in severe periapical pathosis in children. Herpesviruses have the potential to elicit potent bone resorption-inducing cytokines in mammalian cells.


OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to determine the occurrence of human cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr virus DNA, and mRNA transcripts of receptor activator of nuclear kappa B ligand (RANKL), osteoprotegerin, core binding factor alpha-1, colony stimulating factor-1, transforming growth factor-beta, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 in periapical symptomatic pathosis of deciduous teeth.


METHODS
Twelve deciduous molar teeth from patients aged 2-8 years were extracted due to severe periapical infection, and granulomatous tissue adherent to the root tip of the extracted teeth was collected using a surgical knife. Non-diseased pulpal tissue, obtained from 12 teeth extracted for orthodontic reasons, served as negative control. Polymerase chain reaction assays were employed to identify herpesvirus DNA and cytokine gene expression, using established polymerase chain reaction primers and procedures.


RESULTS
Seven (58%) of the periapical lesions yielded human cytomegalovirus and eight (67%) Epstein-Barr virus. Only one (8%) periapical lesion showed neither human cytomegalovirus nor Epstein-Barr virus. In healthy pulpal tissue, one (8%) specimen demonstrated human cytomegalovirus and another (8%) specimen revealed Epstein-Barr virus. Of the cytokines examined, RANKL expression showed significantly higher occurrence in periapical pathosis than in healthy pulpal tissue (P < 0.040). No relationship was identified between the type of herpesvirus and cytokine expression in the periapical lesions studied.


CONCLUSIONS
The present findings provide evidence of a putative role of human cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr virus in the pathogenesis of symptomatic periapical pathosis in deciduous teeth. Increased RANKL expression in periapical lesions may be of pathogenetic significance.
Yildirim
S
S
Selçuk University, Konya, Turkey. sbyildirim@selcuk.edu.tr
Yapar
M
M
Kubar
A
A
Slots
J
J
D001862:Bone Resorption / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D050659:Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit / Q000032:analysis; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis*; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008024:Ligands; D016173:Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis; D010010:Osteoclasts / Q000473:pathology; D053244:Osteoprotegerin; D010483:Periapical Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D010484:Periapical Granuloma / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D053245:RANK Ligand; D053246:Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-kappa B; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000032:analysis; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000032:analysis; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D050659:Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit; D016207:Cytokines; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006023:Glycoproteins; D008024:Ligands; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D053244:Osteoprotegerin; D053245:RANK Ligand; D053246:Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-kappa B; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; C505686:TNFRSF11A protein, human; C506030:TNFRSF11B protein, human; C505688:TNFSF11 protein, human; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016173:Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor