Effect of local and systemic inflammation on gingival mesenchymal stem cells

Background. The present study was undertaken to determine the effect of local and systemic inflammation on the quantity and localization of gingival mesenchymal stem cells (gMSCs).

Methods. Gingival samples were collected from 34 systemically healthy (group 1) and 10 consenting adult patients with type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM) (group 2), who had reported for various dental treatments, requiring excision of gingival tissues as part thereof. The tissue samples were further stratified into three categories: healthy gingiva, gingivitis-affected and periodontitis-affected. Samples mounted on slides were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) while CD105 antibody was used for immunohistochemistry staining. Immuno-positive cells were identified as gMSCs. Three gMSCpopulated areas in each sample were selected to determine the density of gMSCs.

Results. The density of gMSCs was significantly higher (P<0.05) in sections of gingival tissues affected by gingivitis and periodontitis compared to those of normal gingiva. However, there were no significant differences in the densities of gMSCs in tissues of patients with T2DM and those of healthy subjects.

Conclusion. Local inflammatory status appeared to increase the density of gMSCs. In the presence of periodontitis, an added low-grade systemic inflammation (T2DM) did not appear to affect the density of gMSCs.