title: Expression of a cytokine, interleukin-23, in experimental periapical lesions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the expression of interleukin (IL)-23, a new member of the IL-12 family, in experimental periapical lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Periapical lesions were induced in Wistar rats by occlusal surface pulp exposure in mandibular first molars. The rats were randomly sacrificed 0, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42 and 56 days after pulp exposure. The jaws that contained the first molars were obtained and routinely prepared for radiographic, histological, enzyme histochemical, immunohistochemical and double immunofluorescence analyses. Data were analysed by one-way analysis of variance and the Pearson correlation test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The number of IL-23-positive cells increased from day 7 to day 35 and then gradually decreased. The number of osteoclasts increased and peaked on day 14 and then gradually decreased from day 21 to day 56. A significant positive correlation existed between the number of IL-23 positive cells and the size of bone resorption in periapical lesions from day 7 to day 56 (r = 0.875, P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Interleukin-23 can be observed and may be associated with inflammatory response and bone resorption in periapical lesions.
authors.affiliation: School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Peng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D053759:Interleukin-23 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D010483:Periapical Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D053759:Interleukin-23
keywords: interleukin-23; osteoclast; periapical lesions