Tumor necrosis factor-alpha expression and detection of apoptosis at the site of chronic periodontitis in AIDS patients

BACKGROUND: Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, is associated with the regulation of the life cell cycle of leukocytes in healthy and diseased states. OBJECTIVES: In the present study, we investigated the presence of apoptosis of mononuclear inflammatory cells in the periodontal lesion from adult periodontitis in healthy control patients and AIDS patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Tissue samples adjacent to a 5-6 mm gingival sulcus, measured with a periodontal probe, were obtained during routine periodontal surgical procedures. The direct immuno-peroxidase of digoxigenin-labeled genomic DNA method was used for in situ detection of apoptosis in gingival tissues. RESULTS: Many tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha)-positive cells, detected by immunohistochemistry method, were observed in gingival samples of both groups of patients. In addition, a significant lower number ( p < 0.05) of mononuclear apoptotic cells were observed in AIDS patients when compared with healthy control patients. CONCLUSION: These data suggested an important role of the apoptosis of mononuclear cells in the pathogenesis of chronic adult periodontitis in AIDS patients.