Novel method of determining the periodontal regenerative capacity of T‑PRF and L‑PRF: An immunohistochemical study.

BACKGROUND Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) plays an important role in the regeneration of the lost periodontal tissues. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) is the most sensitive staining technique for the identification and localization of specific cells. There are few studies in the available literature which use IHC to compare PRF prepared from titanium and silica glass tubes. OBJECTIVES The aim of the study was to use IHC to evaluate and compare cells present in the PRF membrane prepared from titanium and silica glass tubes. MATERIAL AND METHODS Blood was drawn from 10 healthy volunteers and PRF was prepared from titanium and silica glass tubes. Immunohistochemical staining for the localization, distribution and pattern of cells present in PRF with the CD 3, CD 15, CD 20, CD 34, CD 61, and CD 163 antibodies was carried out. A statistical analysis including the χ2 test, independent t-test and unpaired t-test was performed to determine significant differences. RESULTS There were significantly more T cells, B‑lymphocytes and platelets, with a strongly positive staining in terms of the cell distribution and the labeling index in the T-PRF group in comparison with the L-PRF group. However, in terms of localization, a stronger positive staining was obtained with platelets in the T-PRF group and stem cells in the L-PRF group. In terms of the cell pattern, a significantly stronger positive staining was obtained by neutrophils in the L-PRF group and B‑lymphocytes in the T‑PRF group. CONCLUSIONS Titanium PRF has the edge over PRF prepared from silica glass tubes, and emerged as a better alternative for use in the field of periodontal regeneration.