Elevated expression of importin 8 in inflamed human dental pulps

This study was to elucidate the roles of importin 8 in human dental pulp inflammatory activity by quantifying importin 8 expression in healthy and inflamed human dental pulps. 30 human dental pulps suffering from irreversible pulpitis caused by carious were involved in the study. The expression of IPO8 was detected by immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, Real-time PCR and Western blot respectively. NF-κB p p65 and p IκBα expressions in nuclear protein of dental pulps were detected to investigate NF-κB activation. Our results showed that IPO8 expression in inflamed human dental pulps increased significantly at both mRNA and protein levels compared with healthy pulps. In healthy pulps, the positive expression of IPO8 was mainly in odontoblasts. Under inflammatory conditions, IPO8 staining was also observed in nerve fiber tissues and dilated blood vessels, besides odontoblasts. NF-κB 65 and IκBα phosphorylation in cell nuclei was significantly upregulated in inflamed human dental pulps. In conclusion, IPO8 may be a marker reflecting human dental pulp inflammation. NF-κB is activated in human pulp inflammatory activity.