Carcinoma ex Pleomorphic Adenoma of the Salivary Glands: A Clinicopathologic Analysis of 361 Cases in A Chinese Population

Walsh Research Institute, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand Objective: To investigate the cell types expressing FOXP3 and IL17 within periodontal disease tissues and to determine their gene and protein expression profiles. Study Design: A total of 10 gingivitis and 10 chronic periodontitis tissues were investigated. Double immunofluorescence was used to identify the FOXP3 and IL17 positive cells. Gene expression and protein expression were determined using qPCR and ELISA respectively. Results: More FOXP3+ cells than IL17+ cells were observed in both lesions. Overall there were very few IL17+ cells. Double immunofluorescence revealed that all FOXP3+ cells were CD4+, while IL17+ cells were neither CD4+ not CD8+. Further identification of the IL17+ cells showed that they were tryptase+, suggestive of mast cells. IL17 gene and protein expression was not detected in any of the tissues. Conclusions: The current study has shown that Th17 cells do not exist in periodontal disease. The source of relatively small amounts of IL17 may in fact be mast cells.