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Figure 2. Immunohistochemical localization and characterization of immune cells in the human pulp in vivo and in tooth slices stimulated by TGF-ß1. Immunoperoxidase staining (a–i). HLA-DR positive cells were detected in vivo in the whole pulp, mainly in the subodontoblast layer (a) and along nerve fibers (b). In some sections, rare B-lymphocytes were present in the central core of the pulp (anti-CD19 antibody, c). Immunolocalization of T-lymphocytes with anti-CD3 antibody showed some positive cells scattered in the pulp tissue (d,e). A few mature DC-LAMP-positive DC were localized close to the pulp chamber floor (f) and in the central part of the forming roots (g) but not in the peripheral subodontoblast and odontoblast layers. In cultured slices stimulated with TGF-ß1, DC density increased in odontoblast and subodontoblast layers (h), but not in the pulp core. In cultured non-stimulated tooth slices, no significant variation was observed in the odontoblast layer, while DC decreased in the subodontoblast layer and in the pulp core (i).
Double-immunofluorescence staining (j–s). HLA-DR+/Factor XIIIa+ immature DC (j,k) which were also CD68+ (l,m) were present in the stimulated area and the whole pulp, whereas Factor XIIIa+/DC-LAMP+ mature DC (n,o) were detected only in the deep pulp close to the floor and in roots. Co-localization or CD68 with the TGF-ß1-binding receptor type II (TßRII) indicated that immature DC expressed TßRII (p,q), whereas mature DC-LAMP-positive cells present in the deep pulp did not (r,s). O, odontoblast layer; SO, sub-odontoblast layer; PC, pulp core; N, nerve; V, blood vessel. Bars: 50 µm (a,b,f,g,h,i), 25 µm (c,e,l,m,n,o,p,q,r,s), 100 µm (d), and 10 µm (j,k).
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