Correlation Between Proinflammatory Cytokine Expression and Clinical Data in Apical Granuloma

Area of Science:

• Oral pathology
• Immunology
• Endodontics

Background:

• Apical granulomas are inflammatory lesions often occurring after root canal treatment.
• CD4+ T cells secrete various cytokines involved in the inflammatory process.
• Understanding cytokine expression in apical granulomas can provide insights into treatment outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the expression of key inflammatory cytokines (IL-2, IL-5, IL-17, TGF-β, TNF-α, IFN-γ) in apical granulomas.
• To correlate cytokine expression with clinical conditions and the time elapsed since root canal treatment.

Main Methods:

• Immunohistochemical analysis of 18 apical granuloma biopsy specimens.
• Evaluation of cytokine expression using optical microscopy.
• Correlation analysis between cytokine levels, clinical data, and treatment duration.

Main Results:

• Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) showed the highest expression levels.
• Significant differences in expression were noted for IL-2 compared to IFN-γ and TGF-β.
• Lower expression of IL-2 correlated with pain and absence of sinus tract, while lower IL-5 correlated with treatments performed <4 years prior.

Conclusions:

• IFN-γ and TGF-β are highly expressed in apical granulomas.
• IL-2 and IL-5 levels are associated with clinical presentation and time since root canal therapy.
• Cytokine profiles may offer prognostic indicators for endodontic treatment success.