Mature dendritic cells in inflamed human pulps beneath deep caries.

OBJECTIVE

Dendritic cells (DCs) in pulps have been identified with markers for immature DCs and the relationship of DC maturity to pulpal health has not been carefully examined. We sought to test the hypothesis that the frequency of CD83+ mature DCs would correlate with caries invasion.

STUDY

DESIGN

Pulps were collected from extracted teeth exhibiting (I) no caries (n = 9), (II) shallow dentinal caries (n = 5), and (III) deep caries (n = 9). Immature DCs (CD209+), mature DCs (CD83+), and monocytes/macrophages (CD14+) in three groups were enumerated immunohistochemically.

RESULTS

Mature DCs were frequently found beneath deep caries (21.3 mature DCs/3 grids versus <1 in groups I and II) with increasing numbers of CD209+ DCs and CD14+ cells. Co-localization of CD4+ T cells with mature DCs and macrophages was observed in deep caries.

CONCLUSION

Mature DCs were frequently found only beneath deep caries and these DCs were co-localized with CD4+ T cells suggesting antigen presentation.