title: Receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand (RANKL) and CD 31 expressions in chronic periodontitis patients before and after surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study investigated the hypothesis that upregulation of receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand (RANKL) expression may be associated with upregulation of endothelial cell activitiy, which is common for periods of periodontal bone loss in chronic periodontitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  RANKL expression of activated cells in soft tissue biopsies with CD 31 activity and the presence of RANKL and osteoprotegerin (OPG) in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) were assessed in chronic periodontitis patients. Biopsies from 17 patients and 10 healthy subjects were immunohistochemically analyzed. Clinical measurements [plaque index (PI), the gingival index (GI), probing pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment level (CAL) and gingival bleeding index (GBI)] and GCF samples were obtained before and after periodontal therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CD31 staining did not support the assumption that endothelium-like cells were predominantly associated with RANKL expression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RANKL-positive cells were widely distributed in periodontitis patients giving only partial support to the hypothesis that RANKL expression is restricted to T- and B-cell activation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, School of Dentistry, Faculty of Health, Witten/Herdecke Universit, Witten, Germany.
authors.forename: Anton
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Friedmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, Gazi University, Biskek caddesi 84.sokak 06510 Emek, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nurdan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ozmeric
authors.affiliation: Institute for Periodontology and Synoptic Dentistry, ChariteCenter 3, Zentrum fur Zahnmedizin, Universitatsmedizin Charite, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Bernimoulin
authors.affiliation: Institute for Periodontology and Synoptic Dentistry, ChariteCenter 3, Zentrum fur Zahnmedizin, Universitatsmedizin Charite, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Bernd-Michael
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Kleber
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, 100. Yil University, 65080 Kampüs Van, Turkey.
authors.forename: Eylem
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ayhan
authors.affiliation: Private Practice, Atatürk Bulvari Asaf Erkilic Apt. 94/3 Gaziantep, Turkey.
authors.forename: Tuba
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aykan
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, Ordu University, Bulent Ecevit Bulvarç, Ordu, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ceren
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gökmenoğlu
keywords: CD31; RANKL; chronic periodontitis; gingival crevicular fluid; immunohistochemistry; osteoprotegerin