The temporal expression and localization of extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer (EMMPRIN) during the development of periodontitis in an animal model.
OBJECTIVE
We previously demonstrated extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer (EMMPRIN) was associated with the matrix metalloproteinases production of human periodontitis. The aim of this study was to investigate the temporal expression and localization of EMMPRIN during ligature-induced periodontitis in rats.


METHODS
Periodontitis was induced in rats by placing a thread around the cervix of the first mandibular molar. Animals were killed 3, 7, 11, 15 or 21 d after ligation. Mandibles were processed for paraffin sections and stained with hematoxylin and eosin or picrosirius red. The distance from the amelocemental junction to the alveolar crest (ACJ-AC) and the area fraction (Area%) of collagen fibers were measured. EMMPRIN was examined by immunohistochemistry and quantified by positive cell counting. Correlation analyses were then performed.


RESULTS
Histologically, alveolar bone was gradually destroyed from day 3 to 11 and then stabilized. Collagen fibers were slightly dissociated on day 3 and extensively broken on day 7. They were reconstructed from day 11 to 21. EMMPRIN was localized predominantly in infiltrating cells and adjacent fibroblasts in interdental gingiva. The number of EMMPRIN-positive cells increased on day 3, peaked on day 7 and then gradually subsided from day 11 to 21. Statistically, there was a moderate positive correlation regarding the ACJ-AC distance (r = 0.552, p < 0.01) and a strong negative correlation with the Area% of collagen fibers (r = -0.808, p < 0.01). In gingival epithelium, the immunoreactivity was extremely strong in basal layer cells and sulcular epithelial cells in health. It was greatly enhanced in the inflamed conditions on days 3 and 7. In the interradicular bone, EMMPRIN was localized in the osteoclasts on days 3 and 7, as well as in the osteoblasts from day 11 onwards.


CONCLUSIONS
The expression and localization of EMMPRIN are temporally varied during the development of periodontitis. In addition, the inflammation-dependent expression of EMMPRIN might be involved in alveolar bone resorption and collagen breakdown.
Liu
L
L
Key Laboratory for Oral Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, Wuhan University, Hongshan District, Wuhan, China.
Li
C
C
Cai
X
X
Xiang
J
J
Cao
Z
Z
Dong
W
W
D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000473:pathology; D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D051926:Basigin / Q000032:analysis*; D003094:Collagen / Q000032:analysis; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004846:Epithelial Attachment / Q000473:pathology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000473:pathology; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000473:pathology; D005881:Gingiva / Q000473:pathology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000473:pathology; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000473:pathology; D010010:Osteoclasts / Q000473:pathology; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000473:pathology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013997:Time Factors; D019237:Tooth Cervix / Q000473:pathology
D051926:Basigin; D003094:Collagen