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Updated: Jul 10, 2026
Long-term Intravital Immunofluorescence Imaging of Tissue Matrix Components with Epifluorescence and Two-photon Microscopy
Published on: April 22, 2014
Immunohistochemical localization of matrixmetalloproteinase-2 in human coronal dentin
Lee W Boushell1, Masaru Kaku, Yoshiyuki Mochida
1Department of Operative Dentistry, UNC School of Dentistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7450, USA. boushell@dentistry.unc.edu
Unlabelled:
While it is known that matrixmetalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) is present in dentin, its distribution and role in human dentin formation and pathology are not well understood.
Objective:
To characterize the distribution of MMP-2 in human coronal dentin.
Methods:
Immunohistochemistry was used to investigate the distribution of MMP-2 in coronal dentin. Freshly extracted human premolars and third molars (age range 12-30) were fixed with formaldehyde, demineralized with 10% EDTA (pH 7.4) and embedded in paraffin. Serial sections were made and subjected to immunohistochemical analysis using a specific monoclonal anti-MMP-2 antibody. Immunoreactivity was visualized with 3,3'-diaminobenzidine substrate and observed under light microscopy. ImageJ software was used to calculate the relative amount/distribution of MMP-2.
Results:
The analysis revealed immunoreactivity for MMP-2 throughout human coronal dentin. However, intense immunoreactivities were identified in a 90-200 microm zone adjacent to the pre-dentin as well as a 9-10 microm wide zone adjacent to the dentinoenamel junction (DEJ).
Conclusion:
MMP-2 has a specific distribution in human coronal dentin indicating it's involvement in extracellular matrix organization in predentin and the establishment of the DEJ.
