Association Between Mast Cells and Collagen Maturation in Chronic Periodontitis in Humans

Abstract

Mast cells (MCs) can influence the maturation of collagen fibers. This study evaluated the relationship between the distribution and degranulation of MCs and collagen maturation in human gingival tissue in chronic periodontitis. A total of 16 specimens of patients clinically diagnosed as periodontitis and 18 controls clinically diagnosed as healthy or gingivitis were included. Immunohistochemistry and Picrosirius staining were performed to identify MCs and assess collagen fibers, respectively. Chi-square, t test, and Pearson's correlation test ( p<0.05) were used. In control specimens, there was a positive association between MCs in the connective tissue and the presence of immature collagen ( p=0.001); in periodontitis samples, this association was not confirmed ( p≥0.12). There was no significant relationship between periodontal diagnosis and collagen maturation or MC degranulation ( p≥0.35). MC density was significantly higher ( p=0.04) in periodontitis tissue (339.01 ± 188.94 MCs/mm²) than in control tissue (211.14 ± 131.13 MCs/mm²) in the area of connective tissue containing inflammatory infiltrate. There was a correlation between the number of MCs and probing depth ( r = 0.34, p=0.04). MCs are involved in the pathogenesis of periodontal diseases and might be associated with collagen maturation in periodontal tissue during the early stages of periodontal disease pathogenesis.

Keywords: collagen; human; inflammation; mast cells; periodontitis.

Figure 1.

Immunohistochemistry with mast cell tryptase antibody showing mast cell density. (A) Periodontitis sample (scale bar = 50 µm); (B) Control sample (scale bar = 20 µm).

Figure 2.

Immunohistochemistry with mast cell tryptase antibody showing mast cell degranulation. (A) Periodontitis sample (scale bar = 20 µm); (B) Control sample (scale bar = 20 µm).

Figure 3.

Picrosirius coloring of collagen fibers (an intense red color represents mature and thick collagen fibers; a lighter red color represents immature and thin collagen fibers). (A) Periodontitis sample (scale bar = 200 µm); (B) Control sample (scale bar = 200 µm).