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INTRODUCTION: Galectins play important roles in immunoinflammatory responses, but their participation in the development of periapical lesions remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the expressions of galectins-1, -3, and -7 in periapical lesions, correlating them with the intensity of the inflammatory infiltrate and the pattern of the cystic epithelium. METHODS: Twenty periapical granulomas (PGs), 20 radicular cysts (RCs), and 20 residual radicular cysts (RRCs) were submitted to immunohistochemistry using anti-galectin-1, -3, and -7 antibodies. The percentage of immunopositive cells in epithelial and connective tissues was determined. RESULTS: In connective tissue, PGs exhibited higher cytoplasmic/membrane expression of galectins-1 and -7 than RCs and RRCs (P < .05). There was higher nuclear expression of galectin-1 in PGs compared with RCs and RRCs (P < .05). The expression of galectins-1 and -7 in connective tissue was higher in lesions with grade III inflammation (P < .05). No significant differences in galectin-3 immunoexpression were observed for any of the parameters evaluated (P > .05). In the epithelial component, a higher nuclear expression of galectin-7 was detected in RRCs (P < .05), and a higher cytoplasmic/membrane expression of this protein was found in cysts with hyperplastic epithelium (P < .05). Positive correlations were observed between the nuclear and cytoplasmic/membrane expression of galectin-1 in connective tissue (P < .05) as well as between the nuclear and cytoplasmic/membrane expression of galectin-7 in epithelial tissue of cysts (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Galectins-1 and -7 may play important roles in the pathogenesis of PGs, RCs, and RRCs. On the other hand, the present results suggest only a minor involvement of galectin-3 in the development of these lesions.

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As patologias mais frequentes na região maxilar e mandibular são as lesões de origem inflamatória, o cisto radicular e o granuloma periapical. O diagnóstico é a base para o tratamento endodôntico e se apoia nos sintomas do paciente, nos exames radiográficos e histológicos que permanecem como o padrão ouro para determinar qual o tipo de lesão periapical. Contudo, a imagem radiográfica sugere como diagnóstico as lesões periapicais sem, no entanto, caracterizar qual o tipo de lesão encontrada. A Odontologia tem sido beneficiada pelos constantes avanços na área da tecnologia de informática. Com esses avanços, no exame da tomografia computadorizada de feixe cônico (CBCT), a lesão pode ser observada na sua total dimensão. Porém, o real potencial em fornecer a distinção entre cistos e granulomas ainda não atingiu a sua plenitude. No entanto, com base em estudos realizados até esta data, a tomografia computadorizada é considerada uma importante ferramenta para o diagnóstico diferencial das lesões periapicais. O principal objetivo desta revisão de literatura é fornecer um panorama sobre o potencial do CBCT como ferramenta para diferenciar os cistos periapicais dos granulomas com base nos estudos mais relevantes até então desenvolvidos (AU).

The most frequent pathologies in maxillary and mandibular region are the lesions of inflammatory origin, radicular cyst, and periapical granuloma. The diagnosis is the basis for endodontic treatment and relies on the patient's symptoms, radiographic and histological examinations that remain the gold standard to determine the type of lesion. However, radiographic images suggest a diagnsosis of periapical lesions without characterizing the lesion. Dentistry has been favored by a continuous progress in computer technology. Using the cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) the lesion can be examined in its full dimension. However, the real potential to provide a distinction between cysts and granulomas has not yet reached its fullness. However, according to the literature, CT scan is considered an important tool for the differential diagnosis of periapical lesions. The main objective of this review is to provide an overview of the potential of CBCT as a tool to differentiate periapical cysts from granulomas, based on relevant previous studies (AU).

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INTRODUCTION: Cysts and periapical granulomas are inflammatory reactions that develop in response to periapical infection by microbial species in dental root canal. It is known that toll-like receptors (TLRs) are pathogen recognition molecules and that galectins are lectins that can be associated with the inflammatory process, stimulating or inhibiting the immune system. The objective of this study was to evaluate the in situ expression of TLRs and galectins in radicular cysts and periapical granulomas. METHODS: We analyzed 62 cases (30 radicular cysts, 27 periapical granulomas, and 5 control cases). Indirect immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate the expression of TLRs (TRL-2 and TLR-4) and galectins (Gal-3 and Gal-9). RESULTS: The expression of Gal-3 and Gal-9 was significantly higher in periapical granulomas and radicular cysts than in the control group. Similarly, both Gal-3 and Gal-9 were expressed significantly more in periapical granulomas than in radicular cysts. The expression of TLR-2 was significantly higher in periapical granulomas and radicular cysts than in the control group, and it was also significantly higher in radicular cysts with sinus tract than in the cases without sinus tract. Furthermore, the expression of TLR-4 was significantly higher in the cases of periapical granulomas with sinus tract than in the cases without sinus tract. CONCLUSIONS: Gal-3/Gal-9 and TLR-2/TLR-4 expression in the periapical granulomas and radicular cysts is associated with reactive periapical inflammation. Pathobiology of periapical disease is a very complex interplay of many bioactive molecules involved in immunoinflammatory responses. Up-regulation of these bioactive molecules might be an important modulator of inflammatory periapical lesions.

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