Expression of angiogenesis-stimulating factors (VEGF, CD31, CD105) and angiogenetic index in gingivae of patients with chronic periodontitis

The aim of this study was to determine the prognostic value of the angiogenesis rate in chronic periodontitis (CP). A total of 61 human gingival samples were taken from patients with CP (n = 40) obtained during open curettage with gingivectomy, healthy periodontia (n = 15), and reactive lymph nodes (n = 7). Quantitative immunocytochemistry studies of VEGF, CD31 (PECAM-1) and CD105 (endoglin) were performed using the spatial visualization method. CD105/CD31 and VEGF/CD31 angiogenetic ratios (ARs) were established to determine the proliferation fraction of the endothelium. In patients with CP, the proliferation of blood vessels was observed, including the presence of numerous high endothelial venules (HEVs) and ordinary vessels. In gingival HEVs of patients with CP, the higher expression was shown by CD31 and, in turn CD105 and VEGF. The entire vascular expression of CD31 in the gingiva correlates with grading in lamina propria, but our study failed to document correlations between the expression of VEGF and CD105 and clinical data of patients with CP. Higher ARs were seen in gingivae of CP patients compared to controls. We concluded that overexpression of the angiogenesis-associated factors in CP suggests its significance in protracting the inflammatory process or periodic exacerbations of the process and destruction of the periodontium. The increased CD105/CD31 and VEGF/CD31 ratios in gingiva confirms an augmented proliferative fraction of the endothelium in gingiva with CP. (Folia Histochemica et Cytobiologica 2012, Vol. 50, No. 4, 554-564)