Immunohistochemical profile of gingiva biopsy samples from the edentulous alveolar ridge in the jaw

Relevance. Despite the high success rate of dental implantation in restoring anatomical occlusion and achieving desired aesthetic effects, complications, often mediated by peri-implantitis, remain an area requiring further study. This study aimed to morphologically assess gingiva biopsy samples from the edentulous alveolar ridge of the jaw, using immunohistochemical markers for immunophenotyping different subpopulations of inflammatory cells, inter alia.
Material and methods. Gingiva biopsy specimens from 25 patients underwent descriptive histological and immunohistochemical analyses, employing markers such as CD3, CD20, TBX21, GATA3, Foxp3, CD68, CD80, CD163, CD1a, and CD83. The study includes clinical-anamnestic data analysis, descriptive histological and immunohistochemical observations, and a quantitative analysis of the abundance of various immunopositive cell subpopulations.
Results. The data indicated that approximately one third of the gum tissues exhibited signs of a chronic inflammatory response, predominantly characterized by the primary T-cell subpopulation of T-helper 1 cells, a minimal presence of regulatory T-cells, and an almost complete absence of T-helper 2 cells. Additionally, an inflammatory cell mix was observed, comprising a significant proportion of B-cells, monocyte-macrophage cells (mainly M2 macrophage subpopulation), and mature CD83+ dendritic cells. These changes reflect a pro-inflammatory local immune response, crucial to consider in future implantation planning.
Conclusion. The analysis of this pilot clinical case series enhances our understanding of the gingiva condition in the edentulous alveolar ridge before dental implantation and opens avenues for further research in this field.

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