Monocyte chemotactic protein-3: possible involvement in apical periodontitis chemotaxis.
OBJECTIVE
To study the expression of monocyte chemotactic protein-3 (MCP-3, also known as chemokine CCL-7) in tissue from apical lesions (AL) and to associate MCP-3 expression with symptomatic or asymptomatic apical periodontitis.


METHODS
To determine the expression of MCP-3 in AL, biopsies obtained during tooth extraction procedures were fixed, subjected to routine processing and diagnosed as apical granuloma (AG) (n = 7) or radicular cyst (RC) (n = 5). As controls, apical periodontal ligament (PDL) specimens from healthy premolars extracted for orthodontics reasons were included (n = 7). All specimens were immunostained for MCP-3 and examined under a light microscope. In addition, homogenates from AL (n = 14) and healthy PDL samples (n = 7) were studied through immunowestern blot. Finally, periapical exudates samples were collected from root canals of teeth having diagnosis of symptomatic (n = 14) and asymptomatic apical periodontitis (n = 14) during routine endodontic treatments and analysed by immunowestern blot and densitometry.


RESULTS
MCP-3 was detected in AG and RC and localized mainly to inflammatory leucocytes, whereas no expression was observed in healthy PDLs. MCP-3 was also detected in periapical exudate, and its levels were significantly higher in symptomatic than in asymptomatic apical periodontitis.


CONCLUSIONS
MCP-3 was expressed in AL and its levels associated with clinical symptoms. MCP-3 might play a role in disease pathogenesis, possibly by stimulating mononuclear chemotaxis.
Dezerega
A
A
Laboratory of Periodontal Biology, Department of Conservative Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile. adezerega@gmail.com
Osorio
C
C
Mardones
J
J
Mundi
V
V
Dutzan
N
N
Franco
M
M
Gamonal
J
J
Oyarzún
A
A
Overall
C M
CM
Hernández
M
M
D000328:Adult; D058070:Asymptomatic Diseases; D001706:Biopsy; D015153:Blotting, Western; D054410:Chemokine CCL7 / Q000032:analysis*; D002634:Chemotaxis, Leukocyte / Q000276:immunology*; D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000276:immunology; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000276:immunology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000276:immunology; D005122:Exudates and Transudates / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D010484:Periapical Granuloma / Q000276:immunology; D010485:Periapical Periodontitis / Q000276:immunology*; D010486:Periapical Tissue / Q000276:immunology; D010513:Periodontal Ligament / Q000276:immunology; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000276:immunology; D011842:Radicular Cyst / Q000276:immunology
D054410:Chemokine CCL7