Immunolocalization of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in human periodontal ligament (PDL) tissue

The distribution of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in periodontal ligament (PDL) tissue was investigated in samples which were obtained from freshly extracted human teeth. The PDL tissue was collected by scraping, and bFGF was identified and localized by immunohistochemistry. Fibroblasts, endothelial cells, some fibrocytes and extracellular matrix (ECM) stained positively for bFGF. It was observed that cells from healthy PDL stained more intensely than those from PDL of teeth associated with chronic periodontitis; histological cell counts revealed that the numbers of fibroblasts was greater (p < or = 0.0005) in healthy PDL than in diseased PDL tissue. The results of this study show that bFGF is produced primarily by PDL fibroblasts and endothelial cells in the PDL and that bFGF levels may be decreased in tissue associated with chronic periodontal lesions.