Expression of RNAs encoding for alpha and beta integrin subunits in periodontitis and in cyclosporin A gingival...

Variation of integrin expression in healthy and diseased gingiva revealed a potential biological role for these cell matrix receptors during gingival remodeling.

Here we determined the level of RNA and tissue localization of different integrin subunits in periodontitis and cyclosporin A-induced gingival overgrowth.

The level of expression was determined by Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction in 12 periodontitis-affected patients, four patients exhibiting severe cyclosporin A-induced gingival overgrowth and seven healthy patients as controls.

The RNA encoding for beta1, alpha2 and alpha5 integrin subunits were reduced in periodontitis gingiva. The reduction observed was stronger in cyclosporin A-treated patients as compared to the healthy controls, while RNA encoding for alpha1 subunit was increased. The RNA encoding for alpha6 integrin was only reduced in cyclosporin A-treated gingiva. Immunohistochemistry showed that i) integrin alpha2 expression is restricted to the gingival epithelium of cyclosporin A-treated patients, ii) the reduction of alpha6 integrin expression in cyclosporin A-treated gingiva is due to loss of expression at focal contacts and iii) beta1 integrin is evenly distributed in the three populations with an intensity decrease in periodontitis and cyclosporin A-treated gingiva.

Taken together these results showed a role for the integrin receptors in periodontal diseases and cyclosporin A-induced gingival overgrowth.