Immunolocalization of Bcl-2 oncoprotein in amlodipine-induced gingival overgrowth

• Main Authors: Lalitha Tanjore Arunachalam, Suresh Rao
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2013-01-01
• Series: Indian Journal of Dental Research
• Subjects: Amlodipine; apoptosis; Bcl-2; gingival hyperplasia; immunohistochemistry
• Online Access: http://www.ijdr.in/article.asp?issn=0970-9290;year=2013;volume=24;issue=2;spage=255;epage=260;aulast=Arunachalam

Background: Drug-induced gingival overgrowth (DIGO) is one of the unwanted side effects of amlodipine therapy, but the pathogenesis still remains unclear. Apoptosis, which plays a ubiquitous role in tissue homeostasis, including gingiva, may be involved in the development of gingival enlargement. Aims and Objectives: (i) To study the distribution of Bcl-2 in healthy and overgrown gingival tissues. (ii) To compare and correlate the Bcl-2 expression in gingival samples from subjects on amlodipine therapy to the findings in healthy controls. Materials and Methods: A total of 25 subjects were recruited for the study - 15 hypertensive patients and 10 systemically healthy subjects. Both the groups were analyzed for Bcl-2 expression using immunohistochemistry. Results: Few of the control specimens showed weak positivity to Bcl-2 antibody, with the distribution limited to the basal cell layers alone, whereas 10 hyperplastic specimens expressed Bcl-2 and, unlike the control group, the distribution pattern was seen in both basal and suprabasal layers. Conclusion: The results indicate that the pathogenesis of amlodipine-induced gingival overgrowth might involve inhibition of apoptosis, especially with morphogenesis of hyperplastic gingival epithelia.