title: Immunolocalization of CD 34 positive progenitor cells in healthy human gingiva--a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The gingiva is a tissue with a high turnover rate of both epithelial and connective tissue cells. In an attempt to identify the possible source of cells which maintain the tissue turnover, we used CD 34, a well established marker of peripheral blood stem cell in healthy human gingiva to determine the origin of progenitor cells in healthy gingiva.
  
  
  METHODS
  Healthy human gingival samples (n=15) were collected from patients undergoing orthodontic extraction. Immunohistochemistry was done on 5 micron paraffin fixed section using the primary antibody CD34 and a universal secondary immunoperoxidase kit. The sections were examined for a golden brown stain indicative of a positive staining.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 15 samples 12 demonstrated a positive staining for the endothelial cells. Of these 12 samples, 11 demonstrated positive staining for stromal and paravascular cells and 10 a positive staining for the basal epithelium layers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of CD 34 positive cells in gingiva in stromal, paravascular location, and basal layer of the gingival epithelium was demonstrated. We speculate that these could be fibroblastic progenitors originating from the peripheral blood stem cells and the positivity stained epithelial cells could be gingival epithelial stem cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, Sri Ramachandra Dental College, Sri Ramachandra University, Chennai, India.
authors.forename: Vamsi
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lavu
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Padmavathy
authors.forename: Suresh R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Rao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000378:metabolism*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000276:immunology; D005881:Gingiva / Q000166:cytology*; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D018952:Antigens, CD34