Analysis of CD57+ natural killer cells and CD8+ T lymphocytes in periapical granulomas and radicular cysts

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare the number of CD57 + natural killer (NK) cells and CD8 + T lymphocytes between periapical granulomas (PGs) and radicular cysts (RCs). Twenty-fives cases of PGs and 25 of RCs were submitted to histological analysis and immunohistochemistry using anti-CD57 and anti-CD8 biomarkers. Positive cells were counted in 10 fields (400× magnification) and the median value was calculated for each case. Statistical tests were used to evaluate differences in the number of CD57+ NK cells and CD8 + T lymphocytes according to type of lesion, intensity of the infiltrate and thickness of the lining epithelium. The number of CD57 + NK cells and CD8 + T lymphocytes was higher in PGs than in RCs (p = 0.129 and p = 0.541, respectively). Comparison of the number of CD57 + NK cells in atrophic and hyperplastic epithelium revealed a larger number of cells in the atrophic epithelium (p = 0.042). A larger number of CD57 + NK cells and CD8 + T lymphocytes were observed in grade III infiltrates compared to grade I/II (p = 0.145 and p = 0.725, respectively). CD8 + T lymphocytes were more prevalent than CD57 + NK cells in most cases when PGs and RCs were analyzed separately or in combination (p < 0.0001). CD57+ NK cells and CD8 + T lymphocytes play a key role in antiviral defense and the presence of these cells supports evidence suggesting the participation of these microorganisms in the pathogenesis of PGs and RCs. The response mediated by CD8 + T lymphocytes was more frequent, indicating greater participation of the adaptive immunity in these chronic lesions.

Immunophenotypic quantification of M1 and M2 macrophage polarization in radicular cysts of primary and permanent teeth

“…Weber et al () did not mention whether the patients had undergone root canal treatment prior to selection of the samples. Since teeth with post‐treatment endodontic disease are different from untreated teeth with apical periodontitis (Henriques et al ), for the present study only permanent and primary teeth without previous root canal treatment and with pulp necrosis and apical periodontitis were selected, based on the combination of clinical, radiographic and histopathological characteristics (Silva et al ). Additionally, the patients’ medical history was also reviewed in order to exclude patients with systemic diseases, since the primary goal was to evaluate a specific cell from the host’s immune response.…”

“…The specimens were evaluated ×10 and ×400 magnification to verify the presence/absence of inflammatory cells, as well as the intensity of the chronic inflammatory infiltrate in 3 previously selected sites per specimen. The intensity of the chronic inflammatory infiltrate was classified according to Tsai et al () and Silva et al ()…”

Comparative Metabolomics Reveals the Microenvironment of Common T-Helper Cells and Differential Immune Cells Linked to Unique Periapical Lesions

“…Lipophagy was reported in lipid-laden macrophages (foam macrophages) (59, 60) and in memory CD8 T cells (61) in odontogenic cyst (62)(63)(64). IL-12 is important in CD8 T-cell clonal expansion in addition to the generation of memory CD8 T cells (65).…”

Expression of epithelial growth factors and of apoptosis-regulating proteins, and presence of CD57+ cells in the development of inflammatory periapical lesions

“…3 Various phenomena stimulating the proliferation of epithelial cells appear to influence this process, such as the higher expression of growth factors and their receptors, and changes in the balance between apoptosis and immunity regulation. [4][5][6][7][8] The CD57 protein relates to cytotoxic activity and mediate immunosuppression, 9 whereas Bcl-2, to cell division regulation, inhibiting apoptosis in several cell types. 10 The epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulates the proliferation of keratinocytes and fibroblasts, and relates to cell proliferation and wound healing.…”