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Published on: October 27, 2023
Substance P and CGRP expression in dental pulps with irreversible pulpitis
Mandana Sattari1, Mohammad Ali Mozayeni, Arash Matloob
1Department of Immunology, Medical School, Shahid Beheshti University M.C., Tehran, Iran.
Summary
Neuropeptide expression of substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is significantly elevated in irreversible pulpitis. Symptomatic irreversible pulpitis showed the highest neuropeptide levels compared to asymptomatic cases and healthy pulps.
Area of Science:
- Endodontics
- Neuroscience
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Pulpitis involves inflammation of dental pulp tissue.
- Neuropeptides like substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) are implicated in pain and inflammation.
- Understanding neuropeptide expression in different pulpitis states is crucial for diagnosis and treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the expression levels of SP and CGRP in healthy dental pulps versus those with symptomatic and asymptomatic irreversible pulpitis.
- To determine the correlation between neuropeptide expression and the clinical status of irreversible pulpitis.
Main Methods:
- Dental pulp samples were collected from healthy controls (n=5) and patients with irreversible pulpitis (n=40; 20 symptomatic, 20 asymptomatic).
- Neuropeptide expression (SP and CGRP) was quantified using competition binding assays and enzyme immunoassays.
- Statistical analysis included ANOVA and Mann-Whitney tests to compare expression levels between groups.
Main Results:
- Neuropeptides SP and CGRP were detected in all analyzed pulp samples.
- Significantly higher SP and CGRP expression was observed in irreversible pulpitis groups compared to healthy pulps (P < 0.001).
- CGRP expression was significantly different between symptomatic and asymptomatic irreversible pulpitis groups (P < 0.05), while SP expression differences were not significant between these two groups.
Conclusions:
- The study demonstrates a significant upregulation of both SP and CGRP in irreversible pulpitis, regardless of symptomatic status, compared to healthy pulps.
- CGRP may serve as a more sensitive biomarker differentiating between symptomatic and asymptomatic irreversible pulpitis than SP.
- These findings highlight the role of neuropeptides in the pathophysiology of irreversible pulpitis.
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