Immunohistochemical Study on Intraepithelial Distribution and Density of Langerhans Cells Identified Using Anti-S-100 Protein Antibody in Phenytoin-induced Overgrown Gingival Tissues

Abstract

In order to clarify the roles of Langerhans cells (LCs) associated with host defense mechanisms, LCs were identified in Phenytoin (PHT) -induced overgrown gingival tissues using rabbit anti-human S-100 protein antibody and compared with those in tissues from age- and sex-matched adult periodontitis (AP) patients with systemically good health. Five patients in each group were randomly selected and all gave informed consent to take part in this study. After the samples were carefully taken during periodontal surgery, the serial specimens were embedded in paraffin and routinely processed. The specimens were immunostained with anti-S-100 protein polyclonal antibody followed by histological analysis of the positive cells in gingival epithelium. The S-100 positive cells specimens from both groups were scattered in both the basal and the spinous layers. The positive cells per square mm unit in gingival epithelium were counted and then the percentage of positive cells per total ephithelial cells were then calculated. In the PHT group, the positive cells were significantly increased in both number and frequency as compared with those in the AP group (p<0.01). In addition, numerous CD 3 positive cells were infiltrated in the connective tissues beneath the oral epithelium containing a significant number of S-100 positive cells and this tendency was remarkable in the PHT group specimens. These findings suggest enhancement of the pathophysiological roles of LCs in PHT-induced gingival overgrowth.