Transforming Growth Factor-Beta 1 Expression in the Peri-Implant Soft Tissues of Healthy and Failing Dental Implants

Transforming Growth Factor-Beta 1 Expression in the Peri-Implant Soft Tissues of Healthy and Failing Dental Implants
April 2003
By Roberto Cornelini, Corrado Rubini, Massimiliano Fioroni, Gian Antonio Favero, Rita Strocchi, and Adriano Piattelli
Journal of Periodontology
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Abstract
Background: Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-?¸) is composed of a family of multifunctional polypeptide growth factors involved in embryogenesis, inflammation, regulation of immune response, angiogenesis, wound healing, and extra-cellular matrix formation. TGF-?¸1 is the most common isoform found in human tissues. A role of TGF-?¸ in the pathogenesis of periodontal disease has been suggested. The aim of the present study was a comparative immunohistochemical evaluation of TGF-?¸1 in normal keratinized gingiva and in the peri-implant soft tissues surrounding failing non-submerged implants.
Methods: Twenty patients participated in this study. Ten biopsies from healthy keratinized mucosa and 10 biopsies from peri-implant soft tissues surrounding failing implants were obtained (one biopsy per patient). The biopsies were obtained from different patients.
Results: In 5 cases of healthy mucosa, the stromal cells were positive between 1 to 5. In 7 cases, the epithelial layers were positive, between 1 and 18 cells. The superficial epithelial layer was negative in all cases. In 9 cases, there was a positivity of the vascular component, between 2 and 16 vessels. In failing implants, the stromal cells were positive in 6 cases, between 1 and 4. In all cases, cells of the epithelial layers were positive, between 15 and 40. The vascular component was positive in all cases, between 12 and 30 vessels. The differences between TGF-?¸1 expression in the epithelium around healthy and failing implants were statistically significant (P <0.0001). The differences between TGF-?¸1 expression in the blood vessels in the soft tissues around healthy and failing implants were also statistically significant (P <0.0001). No statistically significant difference was observed between the 2 groups in the TGF-?¸1 expression in the stromal cells (P = 0.88).
Conclusion: TGF-?¸1 may be one of the most important factors in the regulation of the infiltrate, and in the production of tissue repair with a stimulation of fibroblasts and endothelial cells. J Periodontol 2003;74:446-450.