Interferon‐γ‐producing cells and inducible nitric oxide synthase‐producing cells in periapical granulomas

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Abstract
Periapical granulomas contain a large number of T lymphocytes and monocytes/macrophages and a small number of B lymphocytes and polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Sections from eight periapical granulomas were stained by a variety of immunohistochemical methods. The vascular endothelial cells stained positively for intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule‐1. Helper T cells were identified by immunostaining for CD4 and stained positively for interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ). However, CD4‐positive T cells did not stain for interleukin‐4 (IL‐4). Monocytes/macrophages were identified by immunostaining for CD68 and stained positively for IL‐lγ or inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). IL‐1β could not be detected in the same samples. No cytokine expression was observed in B cells identified by immunostaining for CD20. IFN‐γ‐and iNOS‐positive cells could not be detected in clinically healthy periodontal ligament being used as a negative control. These results suggest that the IFN‐γ‐producing T cells and iNOS‐positive cells may modulate the progress of disease in local inflammation sites such as in periapical granulomas.

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