Interleukin 17 expression in periapical lesions from elderly patients
Rodolfo de Souza Rocha Júnior1, Bruno de Oliveira Bergamin1, Adriana Gomes Rocha Bastos1
1Post-graduate Program in Dentistry, Estácio de Sá University, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Summary
Elderly patients exhibit significantly higher interleukin-17 (IL-17) expression in periapical lesions like cysts and granulomas compared to adults. This finding highlights age-related differences in inflammatory markers within these oral pathologies.
Area of Science:
- Oral Pathology
- Immunology
- Geriatric Medicine
Background:
- Periapical lesions, including cysts and granulomas, are inflammatory responses to pulpal necrosis.
- Interleukin-17 (IL-17) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine implicated in various inflammatory conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate and compare the expression levels of IL-17 in periapical cysts and granulomas between elderly and adult individuals.
- To determine if age influences IL-17 expression in these specific lesion types.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemistry was employed to detect IL-17 expression in periapical lesions from elderly and adult cohorts.
- Lesions were graded from 0 to 2 based on the number of IL-17 positive cells observed under optical microscopy.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in IL-17 expression was found between cysts and granulomas within either the elderly or adult groups.
- Elderly patients demonstrated significantly higher IL-17 expression in both periapical cysts (p=0.007) and granulomas (p=0.0009) compared to adult patients.
Conclusions:
- Elderly individuals present with elevated IL-17 expression in periapical cysts and granulomas relative to adult individuals.
- Age is a significant factor influencing IL-17 levels in periapical inflammatory lesions.
