Buscemi, Marisa

Carini, Francesco

Leone, Angelo

Patel, Anita

Firenze University Press: E-Journals

IJAE Vol. 115, n. 1/2 (Supplement), 2010
87
Caspase-9 and beta-endorphin expression in human 
dental pulp subjected to orthodontic traction
Angelo Leone1, Francesco Carini1, Anita Patel2 and Marisa Buscemi1
1 BioNec, Biomedicina sperimentale e neuroscienze cliniche- Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia- Sezione di Istologia ed 
Embriologia Arcangelo Pasqualino di Marineo, Policlinico Universitario P. Giaccone, Palermo, Italy
2 Winchmore Hill Dental Practice, Green lanes, London, UK
Objective Many authors have studied the expression and the changes of some neu-
rotransmitters, enzymes and markers in dental pulp following orthodontic treatment. 
Our purpose was to evaluate the presence and role of the enzyme Caspase-9 and the 
neurotransmitter β-Endorphin in human dental pulp samples subjected to orthodontic 
treatment and Human dental pulp which have been not treated orthodontically. Sam-
ples were taken from patients at Winchmore Hill Dental Practice. 
Materials and methods Evaluated Human dental Pulps were from both male and 
female patients between 10 and 14 years old. A Straight Wire technique was used with 
Nickel-Titanium and Steel Archwires. The increased pressure applied on teeth was 
gradual. Some patients were subjected to a premolar extraction after 3 months treat-
ment, and others after 6 months. Samples were Bouin-fixed, paraffin-embedded and 
afterwards processed for immunohistochemistry. 
Results Caspase-9 stained heavily in the Parenchymal cells and Odontoblasts in the 
control, 3 and 6 month samples. Endorphin stained heavily in the Subodontoblastic area 
(containing the nerve plexus) in the 3 month samples, however was weakly stained in 
the control and 6 months samples. 
Conclusion The purpose of this study is to determine whether the expression of 
Caspase 9 and Beta-endorphin changes during orthodontic treatment. Our results show 
a variation of reactivity of Endorphin and no difference concerning the Caspase-9. These 
peptides are known to be involved respectively in cell death, protein degradation and 
reaction to stresses, thus it is believable that they could play a crucial role in remodelling 
of tissue necessary for orthodontic tooth movement. Further investigation are needed to 
prove the effective role of the molecules studied.
Key words
Caspase, Endorphin, Dental Pulp


Caspase-9 and Beta-endorphin expression in human dental pulp subjected to orthodontic traction

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Caspase-9 and Beta-endorphin expression in human dental pulp subjected to orthodontic traction

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