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Immunohistochemical Localization of HLA-DR-positive Cells in Unerupted and Erupted Normal and Carious Human Teeth

Department of Operative Dentistry and Endodontics, Niigata University School of Dentistry, 5274, Gakkochodori 2-bancho, Niigata 951, Japan

K. Yoshiba

Department of Operative Dentistry and Endodontics, Niigata University School of Dentistry, 5274, Gakkochodori 2-bancho, Niigata 951, Japan

H. Nakamura

Department of Oral Anatomy, Niigata University School of Dentistry, 5274, Gakkochodori 2-bancho, Niigata 951, Japan

M. Iwaku

Department of Operative Dentistry and Endodontics, Niigata University School of Dentistry, 5274, Gakkochodori 2-bancho, Niigata 951, Japan

H. Ozawa

Department of Oral Anatomy, Niigata University School of Dentistry, 5274, Gakkochodori 2-bancho, Niigata 951, Japan

Class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigen-expressing cells are generally associated with the early phase of the immune response. We have studied the distribution of class II-expressing cells in developing, normal, and carious human teeth to clarify when human pulp acquires an immunologic defense potential and how this reacts to dental caries. Antigen-expressing cells were identified immunohistochemically by means of HLA-DR monoclonal antibody. In the pulp of unerupted developing teeth, numerous HLA-DR-positive cells were distributed mainly in and around the odontoblast layer. In erupted teeth, HLA-DR-positive cells were located, for the most part, just beneath the odontoblast layer, with slender cytoplasmic processes extending into the layer. Superficial caries lesions caused an aggregation of HLA-DR-positive cells in dental pulp corresponding to the lesion. In teeth with deeper caries lesions, this aggregation of cells expanded to include the odontoblast layer. Also noted were HLA-DR-positive cells lying along the pulp-dentin border, with cytoplasmic processes projecting deep into the dentinal tubules, where they co-localized with odontoblast processes. These findings suggest that: (1) human dental pulp is equipped with immunologic defense potential prior to eruption; (2) in the initial stage of caries infection, an immunoresponse mediated by class-II-expressing cells is initiated in human dental pulp; and (3) HLA-DR-positive cells trespass deep into dentinal tubules as the caries lesion advances.

Key Words: human dental pulp • developing tooth • dental caries • HLA-DR monoclonal antibody • immunohistochemistry

Journal of Dental Research, Vol. 75, No. 8, 1585-1589 (1996)
DOI: 10.1177/00220345960750081001


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