J Korean Acad Conserv Dent.  2002 Jan;27(1):1-11. 10.5395/JKACD.2002.27.1.001.

The levels of interleukin-2, interferon-gamma, interleukin-4 and T lymphocyte subpopulations in rat pulpal inflammation induced experimentally by specific bacteria

• Kim SA
• Lim SS

• KMID: 2175542
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5395/JKACD.2002.27.1.001

Abstract

Immune responses associated with bacterial infection involve various inflammatory cells. Clinical symptoms and pathologic features are particularly influenced by the predominant cells. Among inflammatory cells, T cells have the heterogenity. T cells may develop into the mature cells expressing the cell surface markers with different functions and T helper cells are categorized into Th1 and Th2 cells based on their different patterns of cytokine production. The objective of this study was to investigate the change of expression of surface markers on T cells and the Th1/Th2 immune response in pulpal inflammation associated with specific bacteria. We experimentally induced pulpal inflammation in rat incisors by drilling without coolant and innoculated with Streptococcus mutans (S.M. group), Porphyromonas endodontalis (P.E. group), or only sterile cotton (control group). After 1, 2, and 5 days, mandibular incisors were extracted and the pulp tissues were extirpated. The expressions of IL-2 recepters (CD25) and ICAM-1 (CD54) on CD4+ and CD8+ cells in the pulps were determined using a flow cytometer, and the concentration of IL-2, IFN-gamma and IL-4 was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results were as follows; 1. In the S.M. group, CD4+ cells were more increased at 2nd day than 1st day and in the P.E. group, CD8+ cells were more increased at 2nd day than 1st day. 2. The percentages of CD4+, CD4+25+ and CD4+54+ cells were decreased in the pulp tissues at 5th day after irritation in all groups. 3. The ratios of CD4+/CD8+, CD4+/CD4+25+ and CD4+/CD4+54+ in the pulps at 2nd day after irritation by P. endodontalis were significantly lower than the other groups. 4. The higher concentrations of IFN-gamma than IL-4 in the pulps at 2nd day after irritation by P. endodontalis showed that T helper 1 reaction were predominant in the early stage of the pulpal inflammation induced by P. endodontalis. 5. The higher concentrations of IL-4 than IFN-gamma in the pulps at 1st day and 5th day after irritation by S. mutans were measured but the differences were not significant.

Keyword

Pulp; Streptococcus mutans; Porphyromonas endodontalis; T cells

MeSH Terms

Animals
Bacteria
Bacterial Infections
Incisor
Inflammation
Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1
Interferon-gamma
Interleukin-2
Interleukin-4
Lymphocyte Subsets
Lymphocytes
Mandrillus
Porphyromonas endodontalis
Rats
Streptococcus mutans
T-Lymphocytes
T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer
Th2 Cells
Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1
Interferon-gamma
Interleukin-2
Interleukin-4

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Lymphocytes were gated(R1) on FSC(cell size) versus SSC(cell granularity) plot.

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  Fig. 2 Two-color fluorescence analysis of CD25 (FL1-Height) and CD4 (FL3-Height) in left plot and two-color fluorescence analysis of CD54 (FL2-Height) and CD4 (FL3-Height) is shown in right plot. UL: upper left, UR: upper right, LL: lower left, LR: lower right, % Gated: percentage in the gated area, % Total: percentage in all particles.

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  Fig. 3 The percentages of CD4+ cells.

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  Fig. 4 The percentages of CD4+25+ cells.

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  Fig. 5 The percentages of CD8+ cells.

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  Fig. 6 The percentages of CD8+25+ cells.

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  Fig. 7 The ratios of CD4+/CD8+.

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  Fig. 8 The ratios of CD4+/CD4+25+.

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  Fig. 9 The concentration of IFN-γand IL-4.

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  Fig. 10 The pulp tissue in the P.E. group at 2nd day after irritation (H&E stain ×400).

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  Fig. 11 The pulp tissue in the P.E. group at 5th day after irritation (H&E stain ×400).

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