Expression of CD163 in hereditary gingival fibromatosis: A possible association with TGF-b1

Research Abstract

Background: Although several studies have discussed some of the molecular and cellular changes associated with hereditary gingival fibromatosis (HGF), its pathogen- esis is still largely unclear. This study was directed to detect and outline the degree of relationship between the immunophenotyped macrophages (M2) expressing CD163 and TGF-b1 in patients with gingival overgrowth due to HGF. Methods: Biopsies from 20 patients suffering from HGF and 20 normal control sub- jects were harvested, histologically and immunohistochemically stained then, ana- lyzed and statistically compared and correlated for CD163 immunoexpression and TGF-b1. Results: All HGF specimens expressed TGF-b1 by most of the connective tissue fibroblasts, with statistically high significant mean of area % (2.61 0.41) compared to normal controls (0.11 0.06; P=.001). All control specimens revealed negligible CD163 immunostaining of the few inflammatory cells found with a mean area of % (0.69 0.12), while the specimens of HGF cases showed statistically significant higher CD163 expression (3.39 0.75) at (P = .007). A statistically significant higher mean % of M2 cells expressing CD163 in relation to the total number of the inflammatory cells was revealed in HGF (34.46 2.04) compared to the control group (16.36 2.39; P-value ≤ .05). Moderate correlation between CD163 and TGF-b1 was detected in HGF (r = .451; P-value < .05). Conclusions: CD163 and TGF-b1 were clearly expressed in HGF cases compared to healthy control patients, with significant correlation. In HGF, the increase in CD 163-positive cells was specific and not dependent on the chronic gingival inflammation.

Research Keywords

cytokines, diagnosis, gingival hyperplasia