RESUMO
The chronic usage of nifedipine is associated with the appearance of gingival overgrowth (GO). The frequency of GO associated with chronic nifedipine therapy remains controversial and the possible subclinical effects of this drug on the gingival epithelium should be investigated. We investigated the epithelial proliferation index and apoptosis rate, and their association with epithelial enlargement. Proliferation (Ki67 and Cyclin B1) and apoptosis (BCL2, Bax and p53) markers were identified by immunohistochemistry in twenty-one samples of gingival tissue from patients undergoing chronic treatment with nifedipine and in eleven samples of gingival tissue from healthy patients who did not use drugs associated with GO (control). Our results show that the epithelial tissue of nifedipine users has considerably longer rete pegs compared to control (P = 0.01). However, the density of Ki67(+) and Cyclin B1(+) cells was similar in both groups. Regarding apoptosis, we found more BCL2(+) cells in the nifedipine group when compared to controls (P = 0.12). An increase in Bax(+) cells in the nifedipine group compared to control (P = 0.003) was also seen, and slightly lower levels of p53(+) expression were observed (P = 0.51). Our results suggest that the chronic use of nifedipine is not associated with subclinical changes in gingival tissue.
Assuntos
Bloqueadores dos Canais de Cálcio/efeitos adversos , Células Epiteliais/efeitos dos fármacos , Gengiva/efeitos dos fármacos , Crescimento Excessivo da Gengiva/induzido quimicamente , Nifedipino/efeitos adversos , Adulto , Idoso , Apoptose/efeitos dos fármacos , Estudos de Casos e Controles , Proliferação de Células/efeitos dos fármacos , Ciclina B1/análise , Células Epiteliais/patologia , Feminino , Gengiva/citologia , Crescimento Excessivo da Gengiva/patologia , Humanos , Imuno-Histoquímica , Antígeno Ki-67/análise , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas c-bcl-2/análise , Estatísticas não Paramétricas , Proteína Supressora de Tumor p53/análise , Proteína X Associada a bcl-2/análiseRESUMO
BACKGROUND: CD8+ and natural killer (NK) cells have been considered the most effective cells in the combat of cancer, contributing to better prognosis and longer survival. METHODS: The aim of this study was to evaluate the population of CD8+ and NK cells, by immunohistochemistry, in samples of oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC) and lip squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC), leukoplakia, actinic cheilitis, and healthy oral mucosa (control). The relationship of CD8+ and NK cells with survival data, lymph node metastasis, tumor size, and proliferative index was also evaluated. RESULTS: The number of peritumoral and intratumoral CD8+ and NK cells was significantly higher in LSCC, when compared with control, pre-malignant lesions, and OCSCC. A higher proportion of peritumoral CD8+ cells demonstrated correlation with a lower neoplastic proliferative index. Moreover, patients with OCSCC with a high density of peritumoral CD8+ cells showed a tendency towards a longer survival time. CONCLUSIONS: The differential CD8+ and NK cells infiltration in oral SCC might reflect a distinctive tumor microenvironment with a favorable local cytotoxic immune response against neoplastic cells.