Association of amyloid P protein with pathology in periodontal tissues

The lesion of chronic periodontitis is characterized by the persistence of perivascular collections of degenerate plasma cells. In this study, immunohistochemical demonstration of amyloid P (AP) component was used to define the distribution of this protein in established periodontitis lesions and in biopsies of non-destructive marginal gingivitis. Quantitative assessment of AP indicated significantly higher levels in periodontitis than in gingivitis for all regions of the tissue. This was associated with pathology as determined by the intensity of plasma cell accumulation and the extent of connective tissue matrix degradation. AP was concentrated in the deep connective tissue areas but perivascular accumulation was also noted, as was deposition associated with nerve bundles and, occasionally, in the extracellular matrix of the lining epithelium. These findings have potential significance in relation to the pathology of chronic periodontitis as AP has been shown to interact in a calcium-dependent manner with a number of ligands including fibronectin, elastic fibres, C-4 binding protein and amyloid fibrils.