Gingival Langerhans' cells in type I diabetes mellitus

Gunhan M., Gunhan O., Celasun B., Azal O., Bostanci H.

JOURNAL OF PERIODONTOLOGY, vol.67, no.1, pp.37-40, 1996 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 67 Issue: 1
  • Publication Date: 1996
  • Doi Number: 10.1902/jop.1996.67.1.37
  • Journal Name: JOURNAL OF PERIODONTOLOGY
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.37-40
  • Keywords: diabetes mellitus, insulin-dependent, Langerhans' cells, gingivitis etiology, PERIODONTAL-DISEASE, IDENTIFICATION
  • Ankara University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

LANGERKANS' CELLS (LCS) ARE INTRAEPITHELIAL immunocompetent cells. Changes in the number of LCs occur in inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. In this study, the number of gingival LCs in patients with type I diabetes mellitus was compared with those of normal individuals using immunohistochemical methods. Gingival biopsies were obtained from 20 type I diabetics and 10 healthy individuals. Anti-CD1 positive LCs formed an intraepithelial network and showed a marked increase in type I diabetics. This increase was not related to diabetic age. The number of LCs was proportional to the density of subepithelial inflammatory cells. Our findings suggest that LCs may play a role in the development of diabetic gingivitis.