Cell synthesis, proliferation and apoptosis in human dental periapical lesions analysed by <i>in situ</i> hybridisation and immunohistochemistry

Abstract

This study indicates that in dental periapical lesions, apoptosis occurs predominantly in PMN. It is evident that most cells apart from PMN are exhibiting synthetic activity but only epithelial cells undergo proliferation which implies that immune cells must proliferate at distant lymph nodes and travel to the periapical lesion rather than proliferating within the lesion. These results suggest considerable advantages in estimating gene expression within cells in addition to the immunohistochemical detection of cells to determine cell activity at inflamed sites. Clearly, functional cell synthetic activity, resolution and clearance systems operate in peri- apical cystic and granuloma lesions.