Immunoinflammatory cells and Beta-defensin-3 in radicular cysts of primary and permanent teeth

The expression of hBD-3 and quantification of immune and inflammatory response cells (non-degranulated and degranulated mast cells, mature and immature plasmacytoid dendritic cells, mature and immature Tregs, T lymphocytes, cytotoxic T lymphocytes, and B lymphocytes) were evaluated in the radicular cysts (epithelium/capsule) of primary and permanent teeth. The relationship between the size of the radiographic lesion and expression of hBD-3 was also evaluated. Radicular cysts were subjected to immunohistochemical analysis to quantify the immune and inflammatory response cells and to evaluate hBD-3 staining and its relationship with radiographic lesion size. The results were analyzed using the D'Agostino & Pearson, Mann-Whitney, t-test, Kruskal-Wallis, and Dunn's post-tests (5%). hBD-3 was expressed in cysts of primary and permanent teeth. In primary teeth, hBD-3 expression was higher in small lesions than in large lesions (p < 0.05). All the evaluated cell types were detected in all radicular cysts. Cysts of primary teeth showed a higher expression of plasmacytoid dendritic cells, B lymphocytes, and T lymphocytes (p < 0.05), whereas those of permanent teeth showed a higher expression of T lymphocytes, immature plasmacytoid dendritic cells, cytotoxic T lymphocytes, and B lymphocytes (p < 0.05). hBD-3 was expressed in the epithelium/capsule of primary and permanent teeth radicular cysts. Immature plasmacytoid dendritic cells were the predominant cells in radicular cysts of primary teeth, whereas T lymphocytes were more abundant in permanent teeth.