Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha in Peripical Tissue Exudates of Teeth with Apical Periodontitis

Abstract

Aim. The aim of this study was to determine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="E1"><mml:mi>α</mml:mi></mml:math>) levels in periapical exudates and to evaluate their relationship with radiological findings. Methodology. Periapical exudates were collected from root canals of 60 single-rooted teeth using absorbent paper points. TNF-<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="E2"><mml:mi>α</mml:mi></mml:math>levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The samples were divided into three groups according to the periapical radiolucent area. Results. Nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis test revealed significant differences between TNF-<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="E3"><mml:mi>α</mml:mi></mml:math>concentrations in control group (40,<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="E4"><mml:mrow><mml:mn>57</mml:mn><mml:mo>±</mml:mo><mml:mn>28</mml:mn></mml:mrow></mml:math>, 15 pg/mL) and group with larger radiolucent areas (2365,<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="E5"><mml:mrow><mml:mn>79</mml:mn><mml:mo>±</mml:mo><mml:mn>582</mml:mn></mml:mrow></mml:math>, 95 pg/mL), as well as between control and canals with small radiolucent areas (507,<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="E6"><mml:mrow><mml:mn>66</mml:mn><mml:mo>±</mml:mo><mml:mn>278</mml:mn></mml:mrow></mml:math>, 97) (<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="E7"><mml:mrow><mml:mi>P</mml:mi><mml:mo>&lt;</mml:mo><mml:mn>.05</mml:mn></mml:mrow></mml:math>). Conclusions. The levels of TNF-<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="E8"><mml:mi>α</mml:mi></mml:math>increase significantly in teeth with periapical pathosis, from smaller to bigger lesions. This research and its results have shown that objective analysis of the TNF-<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="E9"><mml:mi>α</mml:mi></mml:math>levels enables establishment of a relationship between different concentrations of TNF-<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="E10"><mml:mi>α</mml:mi></mml:math>and different radiological changes.