title: Co-expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and vascular endothelial growth factor in inflamed human pulp: an immunohistochemical study.
abstract: Recent data from the medical literature indicates that cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) plays a key role in the production of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a glycoprotein that has the ability to increase the permeability of blood vessels and to induce angiogenesis. This study was undertaken to investigate the immunohistological co-expression of COX-2 and VEGF in inflamed human pulp, in conjunction with the expression of CD34, a transmembrane glycoprotein expressed in endothelial cells. Pulp tissue of extracted carious human third molars with a recent history of spontaneous pain were collected and processed for immunostaining of COX-2, VEGF, and CD34 using the biotin-streptoavidin method. Healthy pulp samples served as controls. COX-2 expression was not observed in healthy pulps, whereas all inflamed pulps demonstrated COX-2-expressing cells. Similarly, VEGF was not expressed in normal pulp tissue, but was strongly positive in inflamed pulps. CD34 was expressed in the endothelium of both normal and inflamed pulp tissues. Co-expression of COX-2 and VEGF in all consecutive sections of inflamed pulps could be suggestive of a possible release of VEGF via a COX-2-dependent pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Center of Dental Sciences, Gulhane Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey. guvengunseli@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Günseli
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Güven
authors.forename: Ceyhan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Altun
authors.forename: Omer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Günhan
authors.forename: Taskin
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gurbuz
authors.forename: Feridun
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Basak
authors.forename: Erman
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Akbulut
authors.forename: Zafer C
authors.initials: ZC
authors.lastname: Cehreli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000032:analysis*; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000032:analysis*; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000098:blood supply / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000201:enzymology; D006801:Humans; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D018952:Antigens, CD34; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2