title: Immunolocalization of Bcl-2 oncoprotein in amlodipine-induced gingival overgrowth.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Drug-induced gingival overgrowth (DIGO) is one of the unwanted side effects of amlodipine therapy, but the pathogenesis still remains unclear. Apoptosis, which plays a ubiquitous role in tissue homeostasis, including gingiva, may be involved in the development of gingival enlargement.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  (i) To study the distribution of Bcl-2 in healthy and overgrown gingival tissues. (ii) To compare and correlate the Bcl-2 expression in gingival samples from subjects on amlodipine therapy to the findings in healthy controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 25 subjects were recruited for the study - 15 hypertensive patients and 10 systemically healthy subjects. Both the groups were analyzed for Bcl-2 expression using immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Few of the control specimens showed weak positivity to Bcl-2 antibody, with the distribution limited to the basal cell layers alone, whereas 10 hyperplastic specimens expressed Bcl-2 and, unlike the control group, the distribution pattern was seen in both basal and suprabasal layers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicate that the pathogenesis of amlodipine-induced gingival overgrowth might involve inhibition of apoptosis, especially with morphogenesis of hyperplastic gingival epithelia.
authors: Department of Periodontics, Thai Moogambigai Dental College, Golden George Nagar, Chennai, India.
authors: Lalitha Tanjore
authors: LT
authors: Arunachalam
authors: Suresh
authors: S
authors: Rao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017311:Amlodipine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D004848:Epithelium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005881:Gingiva / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D005885:Gingival Hyperplasia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D019214:Gingival Overgrowth / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010512:Periodontal Index; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D017311:Amlodipine