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Cyclooxygenase‐2 Expression in Gingival Biopsies From Periodontal Patients Is Correlated With Connective Tissue Loss
Author(s) -
Mesa Francisco,
Aguilar Mariano,
GalindoMoreno Pablo,
Bravo Manuel,
O'Valle Francisco
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of periodontology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.036
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1943-3670
pISSN - 0022-3492
DOI - 10.1902/jop.2012.110561
Subject(s) - lamina propria , connective tissue , medicine , periodontium , immunohistochemistry , gingivitis , chronic periodontitis , pathology , periodontitis , cyclooxygenase , clinical attachment loss , biopsy , bleeding on probing , dentistry , epithelium , biology , enzyme , biochemistry
Background: The objective of this study is to compare cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) protein expression in gingival biopsies from patients with chronic periodontitis (CP), patients with gingivitis (GV), and individuals with no periodontal disease (control group) and to establish its relationship with clinical variables and connective tissue loss in the lamina propria. Methods: A cross‐sectional and analytic study was conducted in 108 gingival biopsies from 52 patients with CP, 39 with GV, and 17 controls. All biopsies were processed for conventional histopathologic study, immunohistochemical determination of COX‐2 protein expression, and automatic quantification of connective tissue by image analysis. Results: The protein expression of COX‐2, mainly produced by plasma cells and monocytes, was significantly related to the presence of periodontal disease, bleeding index, intensity of inflammatory infiltrate, and loss of connective tissue in the lamina propria of gingival biopsies ( P <0.01, Spearman test). COX‐2 expression was also directly correlated with attachment loss ( P <0.05, Spearman test). Conclusions: COX‐2 protein expression is higher in patients with GV and CP than in individuals without periodontal disease and is inversely correlated with the amount of connective tissue in the lamina propria as determined by image analysis. This finding suggests that COX‐2 participates in mechanisms and pathway signaling related to the destruction of fibrillar support structures of the periodontium.