Abstract
Periodontal disease is characterized by inflammation and bone loss. The balance between inflammatory mediators and their counter-regulatory molecules may be fundamental for determining the outcome of immune pathology of periodontal disease. Cytokines play crucial roles in the maintenance of tissue homeostasis, a process which requires a delicate balance between anabolic and catabolic activities. In particular, two families of growth factors-such as transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are thought to play important roles in modulating the proliferation and/or migration of structural cells involved in inflammation and regulation of immune responses. The aim of this work was to analyze gingival samples and periodontal tissue specimens collected from thirty-eight patients with chronic periodontal disease and from forty healthy individuals, in order to detect the expression and distribution of TGF-β1 and VEGF between the two groups. TGF-β1 and VEGF expression levels were detected using immunohistochemical analysis and computer-assisted morphometric analysis. The findings presented here suggest that biomarker such as TGF-β1 and VEGF have an important regulating role in the orchestration of the immune response, which in turn influence the outcome of disease establishment and evolution.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 479-488 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | European Journal of Inflammation |
Volume | 11 |
Issue number | 2 |
Publication status | Published - May 2013 |
Keywords
- Immunohistochemical analysis
- Inflammation
- Periodontal disease
- TGF-beta 1
- VEGF
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Immunology
- Immunology and Allergy