Cytomorphological characteristics of buccal epithelium in patients with undifferentiated connective tissue dysplasia

Relevance. Undifferentiated connective tissue dysplasia (UCTD) is a background condition that reduces the body's adaptive potential and increases the risk and severity of various diseases. The condition of the buccal epithelium reflects systemic homeostasis and its changes under the influence of local and systemic factors. The aim of this study was to assess the cytomorphological characteristics of buccal epithelial cells in patients with UCTD and their alterations in the presence of periodontal inflammation.

Materials and methods. The study protocol included an assessment of phenotypic signs of connective tissue dysplasia and an evaluation of periodontal status, based on which four groups were identified: Group I – individuals without signs of UCTD or periodontal inflammation (n = 15); Group II – individuals without UCTD but with periodontitis (n = 20); Group III – individuals with UCTD but without periodontitis (n = 20); and Group IV – individuals with both UCTD and periodontitis (n = 34). A cytomorphological analysis of superficial buccal epithelial cells was performed, including an assessment of microorganism adsorption by epithelial cells.

Results. Buccal cytograms of patients with UCTD showed a significantly higher frequency of nuclear aberrations, including micronuclei (10.7-fold increase; p < 0.001), binucleation (3-fold; p = 0.007), perinuclear vacuoles (3.2-fold; p < 0.001), and karyolysis (3.5-fold; p = 0.017). There was also a 3-fold increase in anucleate cells (1.47 ± 0.15%; p < 0.001) and a rise in the cytogenetic index. In patients with both UCTD and periodontitis, the proportion of binucleated cells was 1.3 times lower (p = 0.005) compared to those with UCTD alone. The mean apoptosis index in this group was 17.6 ± 1.1, which was 2.2 times higher than in UCTD patients without periodontitis (p < 0.001) and 1.8 times higher than in patients with periodontitis without UCTD (p < 0.001). The mean cytomorphological coefficient was relatively lower in the UCTD group, although this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.374).

Conclusion. The study identified distinct cytomorphological characteristics of buccal epithelial cells in patients with UCTD, as well as their modifications in the presence of periodontitis.

1. Orekhova LYu, Churilov LP, Stroev Yu I, Alexandrova AA. Systemic connective tissue dysplasia as a common problem in general medicine and dentistry. Parodontologiya. 2010;15(1):8-14 (In Russ.). Available from: http://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=15244672

2. Martynov АI, Nechaeva GI. Guidelines of the Russian scientific medical society of internal medicine on the diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of patients with the connective tissue displasia (first edition). Medical news of north Caucasus. 2018;13(1-2):137-209 (In Russ.). doi: 10.14300/mnnc.2018.13037

3. Akatova EV, Anikin VV, Arsentiev VG, Arutuynov GP, Baranov AA, Butolin EG, et al. Undifferentiated connective tissue dysplasia (the project of guidelines). Therapy. 2019;5(7):9-42 (In Russ.). doi: 10.18565/therapy.2019.7.9-42

4. Nagaeva MO. The results of the correlational analysis of the interconnection between the dental morbidity and the severity of the dysplasia of the connective tissue. Russian Journal of Stomatology. 2023;16(4):13 17 (In Russ.). doi: 10.17116/rosstomat20231604113

5. Galieva AS, Davidovich NV, Opravin AS, Bazhukova TA, Shagrov LL, Bashilova EN, et al. Endoecology of the oral cavity and cytomorphological features of buccal epithelium in people with inflammatory periodontal diseases. Ekologiya cheloveka (Human Ecology). 2022;(7):471-480 (In Russ.). doi: 10.17816/humeco106242

6. Şenel S. An Overview of Physical, Microbiological and Immune Barriers of Oral Mucosa. Int J Mol Sci. 2021;22(15):7821. doi: 10.3390/ijms22157821

7. Pelaez-Prestel HF, Sanchez-Trincado JL, Lafuente EM., Reche PA. Immune Tolerance in the Oral Mucosa. Int J Mol Sci. 2021;22(22):12149. doi: 10.3390/ijms222212149

8. Bazarnyi VV, Polushina LG, Maksimova AY, Svetlakova EN, Sementsova EA, Nersesian PM, et al. Use of integral indices in the assessment of bucсal cytology in health and in the oral cavity pathology. Klinicheskaya Laboratornaya Diagnostika (Russian Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics). 2019;64(12):736-739 (In Russ.). doi: 10.18821/0869-2084-2019-64-12-736-739

9. Deryugina AV, Ivashchenko MN, Ignatiev PS, Samodelkin AG, Belov AA, Gushchin VA. The evaluation of genotoxic effects in buccal epithelium under disorders of adaption status of organism. Klinicheskaya Laboratornaya Diagnostika (Russian Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics). 2018;63(5):290-292 (In Russ.). doi: 10.18821/0869-2084-2018-63-5-290-292

10. Yurchenko VV, Akhaltseva LV, Krivtsova EK, Ingel FI. Interpretation of shifts in the values of some indices of cytome analysis of buccal epithelial cells. Hygiene and Sanitation. 2024;103(10):1235-1242 (In Russ.). doi: 10.47470/0016-9900-2024-103-10-1235-1242.