INTRODUCTION:The aim was to assess the association of inducible costimulator (ICOS) and ICOS ligand with bone destruction in apical periodontitis (AP). METHODS:Specimens from patients presenting with AP were obtained during apicoectomy and subjected to histopathologic analysis and molecular assessment of ICOS/ICOS ligand. In addition, the experimental AP was induced by exposing the pulp of first mandibular molars of rats. Histologic and radiographic examinations were performed to validate the periapical lesions. The immunolocalization and messenger RNA expression of ICOS/ICOS ligand were evaluated by immunofluorescence staining and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The osteoclastic activities in periapical lesions, including the lesion size and the expression of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase and the receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand, were recorded and followed by correlation analysis with ICOS/ICOS ligand expression. RESULTS:In excisional specimens from AP patients, a significantly increased expression of ICOS/ICOS ligand was found compared with the healthy control. In the experimental AP samples, the expression of ICOS/ICOS ligand, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase, and receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand was significantly elevated in inflamed periapical tissues (AP group) when compared with the healthy control. The number of ICOS+/ICOS ligand+ cells was highly correlated with the periapical lesion size (r = 0.892, P < .01 and r = 0.930, P < .01, respectively). CONCLUSIONS:The increased expression of ICOS/ICOS ligand in periapical lesions was associated with the inflammatory infiltration and alveolar bone destruction of AP.
KEYWORDS: Apical periodontitis, T cell, inducible costimulator, inducible costimulatory ligand, osteoclast