Interplay between dental pulp tissue osteoprotegerin and TNF-α levels with micromorphological changes in the teeth of patients with chronic pulpitis

Ljiljana B. Šubarić; Aleksandar S. Šubarić; Nadica S. Djordjević; Jelena S. Filimonović; Radovan R. Jovanović; Dejan Perić; Sofija G. Inić; Ružica G. Inić; Zdenka Stojanović; Aleksandar M. Đorđević

doi:10.2298/VSP240213031S

Ljiljana B. Šubarić University of Priština/Kosovska Mitrovica, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Dentistry, Kosovska Mitrovica, Serbia
Aleksandar S. Šubarić University of Priština/Kosovska Mitrovica, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Dentistry, Kosovska Mitrovica, Serbia
Nadica S. Djordjević University of Priština/Kosovska Mitrovica, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Dentistry, Kosovska Mitrovica, Serbia
Jelena S. Filimonović University of Priština/Kosovska Mitrovica, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Epidemiology, Kosovska Mitrovica, Serbia
Radovan R. Jovanović University of Priština/Kosovska Mitrovica, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Dentistry, Kosovska Mitrovica, Serbia
Dejan Perić University of Priština/Kosovska Mitrovica, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Dentistry, Kosovska Mitrovica, Serbia
Sofija G. Inić University of Priština/Kosovska Mitrovica, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Dentistry, Kosovska Mitrovica, Serbia
Ružica G. Inić University of Priština/Kosovska Mitrovica, Faculty of Medicine, Kosovska Mitrovica, Serbia
Zdenka Stojanović Military Medical Academy, Clinic for Dentistry, Belgrade, Serbia
Aleksandar M. Đorđević University of Priština/Kosovska Mitrovica, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Dentistry, Kosovska Mitrovica, Serbia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2298/VSP240213031S

Keywords: cytokines;, dental pulp;, histological techniques;, microscopy, electron, scanning;, osteoprotegerin;, tumor necrosis factor-alpha

Abstract

Background/Aim. Chronic pulpitis (CP) is an inflammatory dental pulp disorder associated with various pathophysiological mechanisms in its origin. The aim of the study was to evaluate the changes in the pulp tissue of osteoprotegerin (OPG) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and establish their relationship with the histological changes of pulp tissue, as well as with the micromorphological changes, occurring in the mineralized tissue. Methods. The study examined the dental pulp of 41 patients with CP and 12 healthy individuals. The group of the diseased subjects was subdivided based on the presence of communication of the pulp with the oral cavity, i.e., open (n = 22) or closed (clausa) (n = 19) CP. Results. The levels of TNF-α were statistically significantly increased, while OPG levels were decreased in the pulp of patients with CP, compared to the control group. TNF-α levels were almost the same in the pulp of patients with closed CP and the control group, while values were significantly increased in those with open CP compared to control. Histopathological analysis showed a significant increase in the number of mononuclear inflammatory cells in the diseased pulp. Scanning electron microscopy showed distinct changes, which correlate with internal resorption. Conclusion. The results indicate a much greater and intensified process of root resorption in patients with closed CP, which is unassociated with dental pulp OPG and TNF-α level changes.

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