FLOW CYTOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF LYMPHOCYTES IN NORMAL AND INFLAMED PULP

유세포분석기를 이용한 정상치수조직과 염증성 치수조직 내의 임파구 분포에 관한 연구

The purpose of this study was to examine the distribution of lymphocyte populations in normal, reversibly inflamed and irreversibly inflamed human dental pulp tissues using flow cytometry. Flow cytometry, with specific antibody and fluorochrome reagent allows us to know cellular properties of hematolymphoid cells by measuring fluorescence of stained cells. Before extirpation of pulps in routine endodontic treatment, the clinical diagnosis were performed by symptom. The extirpated pulp tissues were divided into normal pulp group (N=5), reversible pulpit is group(N=10) and irreversible pulpitis group(N=7). The specimen was placed into RPMI 1640 medium, minced into small pieces, and then digested in medium with collagenase. The cell suspension was resuspended in PBS for monoclonal antibody staining of T lymhocytes(CD3+), B lymphocytes (CD19+), T helper cell (CD4+) and T supressor cell (CD8+). The percentages of cells were counted by FACStar(BD) flow cytometer. Following results were obtained; 1. In the most normal and inflamed pulps, the percentages of T lymphocyte, B lymphocytes, T helper cell and T suppressor/cytotoxic cell were less than 1 % in total counted pulpal cells. 2. The higher percentages of T, B, T helper and T suppressor cells were observed in irreversible pulpitis group as compared with the normal pulp and reversible pulpitis group but the differences between groups were not statistically significant (p>0.05). 3. The percentages of T helper cells (CD4 + cells) were greater than that of T suppressor/cytotoxic cells (CD8 + cells) in the inflamed pulps.