Concentration-dependent effect of bleaching agents on the immunolabelling of interleukin-6, interleukin-17 and CD5-positive cells in the dental pulp

AimTo evaluate lymphocyte-like cell activation (CD5-positive cells) and the expression of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-17 in the pulp after tooth bleaching with two concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). MethodologyThe right and left maxillary molars from 40 rats were treated randomly with bleaching gel with 20% H2O2 (BLUE group, 1 application of 50min), 35% H2O2 (MAXX group, three applications of 15min), or placebo gel (control). After 2 and 30days, the rats were killed (n=10), and the jaws were processed for histological and immunohistochemistry analysis of the pulp tissue. The scores of inflammation and immunolabelling (IL-6/IL-17) were submitted to Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis followed Dunn tests, respectively; anova tests were used for comparisons of number of CD5-positive cells and pulp chamber area values (P<0.05). ResultsAt 2days, 60% of specimens of the BLUE group were associated with moderate inflammation in pulp horns, and in the MAXX group with necrosis (P<0.05). At 30days, the pulp was organized, and tertiary dentine was formed. The MAXX group had superior immunolabelling of IL-17 at 2days differing significantly from other groups (P<0.05). At 2days, 90% of the specimens of the BLUE group had moderate immunolabelling of IL-6, and 50% of the MAXX group had severe immunolabelling, both significantly different from the control (P<0.05). There was no significant difference between the groups at 30days (P>0.05). CD5-positive cells were present at 2 and 30days, particularly in the bleached groups (P<0.05), without significant difference between time periods (P>0.05). ConclusionsIL-6 and IL-17 participated in inflammation in the pulp tissue of rats after tooth bleaching, particularly at 2days. The immunolabelling was greater with increasing H2O2 concentration. This process was accompanied by the prolonged activation of CD5-positive cells.