Role of TNF-α and its receptors in pericoronitis

The classic stimulus for cellular cytokine production is bacterial lipopolysaccharide ( endotoxin). It was therefore hypothesized that tumor necrosis factor- alpha( TNF-alpha) may be responsible for pericoronitis. TNF-alpha and its receptors were detected by immunohistochemical staining in third molar pericoronitis in ten patients and ten healthy control samples. The percentage of TNF-alpha positive cells was high in pericoronitis ( p = 0.0317). TNF receptors TNF- R1 and TNF- R2 were found in macrophage- and fibroblast- like cells, vascular endothelial cells in post- capillary venules, and basal epithelial cells in pericoronitis, but were only weakly expressed in controls. increased expression of interleukin- 1 beta and vascular cell adhesion molecule- 1 was found as a biological indicator of TNF-alpha ligand- receptor interaction. Explanted tissues acquired destructive potential upon TNF-alpha stimulation, whereas TNF-alpha blockers controlled it in inflamed tissues. These findings suggest that, in pericoronitis, inflammatory and resident cells produce and respond to potent pro- inflammatory cytokine TNF-alpha, with pathogenic and potential therapeutic relevance.