C-reactive protein expression is up-regulated in apical lesions of endodontic origin in association with interleukin-6

Mauricio Garrido, Andrea Dezerega, María José Bordagaray, Montserrat Reyes, Rolando Vernal, Samantha Melgar-Rodríguez, Pía Ciuchi, Rodolfo Paredes, Jocelyn García-Sesnich, Pablo Ahumada-Montalva, Marcela Hernández*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

21 Scopus citations

Abstract

Introduction: C-reactive protein (CRP) is the prototype component of acute-phase proteins induced ultimately by interleukin (IL)-6 in the liver, but it is unknown whether periradicular tissues locally express CRP. The present study aimed to identify whether CRP messenger RNA synthesis occurs in situ within apical lesions of endodontic origin (ALEOs) and healthy periodontal ligament and its association with IL-6 and to determine their protein levels and tissue localization. Methods: Patients with asymptomatic apical periodontitis and healthy volunteers presenting at the School of Dentistry, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile, were enrolled. ALEOs and healthy teeth were obtained and processed for either immunohistochemistry and double immunofluorescence to assess IL-6 and CRP tissue localization, whereas healthy periodontal ligaments were processed as controls for real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction for their RNA expression levels and multiplex assay to determine their protein levels. Statistic analysis was performed using the unpaired t test or Mann- Whitney test according to data distribution and Pearson correlation. Results: IL-6 and CRP were synthesized in ALEOs, whereas their RNA expression and protein levels were significantly higher when compared with healthy periodontal ligament. IL-6 and CRP immunolocalized to the inflammatory cells, vascular endothelial cells, and mesenchymal cells. Both, IL-6 and CRP colocalized in ALEOs, and a positive correlation was found between their expression levels (P < .05). Conclusions: IL-6 and CRP messenger RNA are constitutively expressed in periodontal ligament and upregulated in ALEOs along with higher protein levels. Given their pleiotropic effects, IL-6 and CRP protein levels in apical tissues might partially explain the development and progression of ALEOs as well as potentially asymptomatic apical periodontitis-associated systemic low-grade inflammation.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)464-469
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Endodontics
Volume41
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 2015
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2015 American Association of Endodontists.

Keywords

  • Apical periodontitis
  • C-reactive protein
  • Interleukin-6

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