Tryptase和TIM-1双阳性肥大细胞在不同程度人牙周炎组织中的量化研究*

 目的：T细胞免疫球蛋白黏蛋白1（T-cell immunoglobulin mucin 1，TIM-1）作为一种免疫调节分子，能影响肥大细胞的功能。TIM-1在牙周炎过程中是否在肥大细胞上表达未见报道。本研究旨在观察TIM-1在慢性牙周炎牙龈组织中肥大细胞上的表达，探讨类胰蛋白酶（tryptase）和TIM-1双阳性肥大细胞在牙周炎发病机制中的作用。方法：将92例接受研究的患者按慢性牙周炎的病变程度分成3组：（1）正常对照组27例；（2）轻度牙周炎组34例；（3）重度牙周炎组31例。牙龈组织标本经4%甲醛液固定48 h以上。牙龈标本经石蜡包埋、组织连续切片，HE染色，光学显微镜下观察牙龈的组织学改变；采用免疫荧光双染色，荧光显微镜下观察牙龈组织中tryptase和TIM-1双阳性肥大细胞的表达情况。结果：牙龈组织中的炎症反应程度与慢性牙周炎的病变程度趋势一致。与正常对照组相比较，轻度慢性牙周炎组（P<0.05）和重度慢性牙周炎组（P<0.01）牙龈组织中tryptase和TIM-1双阳性肥大细胞数量显著升高；重度牙周炎组牙龈组织中的tryptase和TIM-1双阳性肥大细胞数量高于轻度牙周炎组（P<0.05）。结论：慢性牙周炎牙龈组织中的tryptase和TIM-1双阳性肥大细胞数量与牙周炎程度的趋势相一致，提示tryptase和TIM-1双阳性肥大细胞可能参与对慢性牙周炎发病过程的免疫调节。

Quantification of tryptase and T-cell immunoglobulin mucin 1 double-positive mast cells in different degrees of human periodontitis

AIM：To examine the expression of T-cell immunoglobulin mucin 1 (TIM-1) on tryptase-positive mast cells (MCs) in different severities of human chronic periodontitis. METHODS：Human gingival specimens (n=92) were involved in this study, including healthy control (n=27), mild chronic periodontitis (n=34) and severe chronic periodontitis (n=31). The gingival specimens were fixed in 4% formaldehyde. Paraffin embedding and serial sectioning with hematoxylin and eosin staining were performed for histopathological examination, and double-immunofluorescence staining was conducted for identification of tryptase-TIM-1 double-positive MCs in the gingival tissues. RESULTS：Compared with the healthy controls, the densities (cells/mm2) of tryptase-TIM-1 double-positive MCs were significantly increased in both mild chronic periodontitis group (P<0.05) and severe chronic periodontitis group (P<0.01). However, compared with mild chronic periodontitis group, both the score of gingival tissue inflammation and the density of tryptase-TIM-1 double-positive MCs in the gingival tissues were significantly increased in severe periodontitis group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION：Significantly increased number of tryptase-TIM-1 double-positive MCs has the similar tendency as the severity of periodontitis inflammation in human chronic periodontitis, suggesting that tryptase-TIM-1 double-positive MCs may play an important role in human chronic periodotitis.