title: Co-production of vascular endothelial cadherin and inducible nitric oxide synthase by endothelial cells in periapical granuloma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To clarify the mechanisms of inflammatory cell migration in human periapical granulomas by examining vascular endothelial (VE) cadherin and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)-producing cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  Periapical tissues were obtained from patients during endodontic surgery and were divided into two portions. After fixing the tissues with acetone or 4% paraformaldehyde in phosphate-buffered saline, 5-microm-thick paraffin or cryostat sections were prepared, respectively. The paraffin sections of the inflamed tissues were evaluated histologically with haematoxylin-eosin stains. Cryostat sections of the tissue, diagnosed as periapical granulomas, were then examined by either immunohistochemistry using anti-human VE-cadherin or iNOS antibodies (Abs) for the characterization of infiltrating cells. In addition, co-localization of VE-cadherin and iNOS production was also analysed by two-colour immunofluorescence image analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Endothelial cells were strongly stained with iNOS Abs. Macrophages, lymphocytes, polymorphonuclear leucocytes and fibroblasts also exhibited iNOS production. These iNOS-positive cells accumulated around the blood vessels. On the other hand, VE-cadherin production was exhibited in only endothelial cells. Two-colour immunofluorescence image analysis using VE-cadherin and iNOS Abs demonstrated that iNOS-producing endothelial cells also showed VE-cadherin production.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vascular endothelial-cadherin produced by endothelial cells could be regulated by iNOS-producing cells in periapical granulomas and might play a pivotal role in vascular permeability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, Nihon University School of Dentistry, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hama
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Takeichi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Komiyama
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ito
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD; D015820:Cadherins / Q000032:analysis*; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006041:Goats; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000032:analysis*; D010484:Periapical Granuloma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011817:Rabbits; D000099152:Cadherin 5
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D015820:Cadherins; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D000099152:Cadherin 5