Histological expression of vascular endothelial growth factor with neovascularization during occlusal hypofunction: animal experimental study

Toshitsugu Kawata

- Biomedical Research (2016) Volume 27, Issue 2

Histological expression of vascular endothelial growth factor with neovascularization during occlusal hypofunction: animal experimental study

Toshitsugu Kawata^*
Orthodontic division, Department of Oral Science, Kanagawa Dental University Graduate School, Yokosuka, Kanagawa, Japan

Corresponding Author: Toshitsugu Kawata, Department of Oral Science, Orthodontic division, Kanagawa Dental University, Japan

Accepted: January 28, 2016

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Abstract

The aim of the present study was to determine whether occlusal hypofunction and its recovery affected the structure of the Periodontal Ligament (PDL) and expression of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) in mice. Five-week-old C57BL/6J mice (Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor ME, USA) were used and randomly divided into three groups: a Hypofunctional Group (HG), Recovery Group (RG), and Control Group (CG). In HG and RG, appliances were attached to the maxillary and mandibular incisors. These appliances were set for 11 weeks in HG and 7 weeks in RG. Appliances were then removed offer 0, 7, 14, and 28 days. Untreated mice served as CG. Histological sections were prepared and immunohistochemically stained for VEGF. The PDL area and the number of VEGF immunopositive cells in the PDL were evaluated in the 3 groups. The number of VEGF immunopositive cells and PDL area were significantly larger in CG white the RG than in HG, while the PDL area in RG was similar to that in CG. In the recovery process, the PDL area and number of VEGF positive cells in the PDL increased from days 0 to 7 and decreased from days 7 to 28. The results of the present study suggest that occlusal stimuli regulate the PDL area through the expression of VEGF in the mouse PDL. The clinical relevance of occlusal stimuli is their ability to regulate the expression of VEGF in PDL cells and these growth factors may lead to alveolar bone remodeling in the PDL.

Keywords

Occlusal hypofunction, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), Periodontal Ligament (PDL).

Introduction

Occlusal stimuli are essential factor for maintaining the structural integrity of the Periodontal ligament (PDL), which has a functional structure for occlusal loads [1]. Teeth without occlusal stimuli are referred to as hypofunctional teeth. Numerous atrophic changes have been reported in the PDL of hypofunctional teeth following the lack of occlusal function, including thickening of periodontal collagen fibers, disorientation of the collagen fibers, narrowing of periodontal space, and loss of alveolar bone, [2-6]. Using three-dimensional microcomputed tomography analyse, we showed that the PDL structure in mice may be affected by disuse atrophy due to defects in occlusal function, and this atrophy may be recovered by regaining occlusal stimuli [7,8]. In orthodontic practice, previous studies demonstrated that the severity of root resorption, examined radiographically, was greater in open-bite cases, which had many hypofunctional teeth, than in deep-bite case before and after orthodontic treatments [9]. We also showed that the prevalence of root resorption and teeth with an abnormal root shape in open-bite patients was significantly greater in hypofunctional teeth than in normal functional teeth [10]. A close relationship exists between periodontal blood vessels and occlusal stimuli. This discovery includes a reduction in the diameter and number of periodontal blood vessels [11]. Several studies using occlusal recovery models observed the revealed widening of blood vessels in the PDL following the application of occlusal stimuli [12-14]. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is the primary mediator of angiogenesis [15] and serves various biological functions, such as increasing vascular permeability [16]. It is also involved in bone resorption [17-19]. Therefore, VEGF may play an important role in periodontal remodeling after occlusal stimuli. Recent studies reported that occlusal hypofunction induced a decrease in the expression of VEGF and FGF (Fibroblast Growth Factor), whereas the expression of FGF was observed in the recovery process [20,21]. However, the structure of the PDL and expression of VEGF have not yet been examined in the occlusal recovery process. Therefore, the aim of study was to determine whether occlusal hypofunction and its recovery influenced the structure of the PDL and expression of VEGF in mice.

Materials and Methods

Animals and the experimental model

5-week-old C57BL/6J mice (Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Me, USA) were used and randomly divided into three groups: two experimental groups and one Control group (CG; n=4). The two experimental groups included a Hypofunctional group (HG; n=4) and Recovery group (RG). The appliance used in the experimental groups consisted of a metal cap made of band material (Tomy International Co., Fukushima, Japan) and an anterior-bite plate made of a new ST lock base (Dentsply- Sankin, Tokyo, Japan) bonded with composite resin (ClearfilMajesty LV; Kuraray Co. Ltd., Okayama, Japan) to the maxillary and mandibular incisors, respectively [7,13] (Figure 1A and 1B). In CG and HG, mice were killed at 16 weeks of age. In RG, 16 mice, from which the appliance had been removed 7 weeks after its attachment, were killed at 0, 7, 14, and 28 days after removal (n=4, respectively). HG were then subjected to soft X-ray radiography to confirm occlusal conditions at 12 weeks of age. The experimental program and procedures are summarized in Figure 1C. Animals were fed a powder diet (Rodent Diet CE-2; Japan CLEA Inc., Tokyo, Japan) and had free access to drinking water under a 12-h light/ dark environment at a constant temperature of 23°C.

Tissue preparation

Mice were anesthetized by an injection of chloral hydrate and perfused with a 4% periodate–lysine–paraformaldehyde fixative solution (pH 7.4) through the descending aorta. Maxillae were decalcified in 14% EDTA (pH 7.4) for 28 days and then embedded in paraffin. Sections (5-μm thick) were cut horizontal to the maxillary incisors. These sections performed HE staining and immunohistochemistry staining of VEGF in turn. Then each section’s photographs were taken by microscope.

Immunohistochemical staining

After deparaffinization, sections that included the root canal were treated with 3% hydrogen peroxide in absolute methanol to block endogenous peroxidase. Sections were then rinsed and immunostained with a 1:150 dilution of primary anti-rat VEGF chicken polyclonal antibodies (Abcam Inc., Boston, MA), followed by an anti-chicken secondary IgG antibody (Abcam), and then an anti-rabbit secondary IgG antibody (Hystfine simple stain rat MAX-PO(R); Nichirei, Tokyo, Japan). Immunoreactive sites were visualized by 3,3'- diaminobenzidine (DAB). Counterstaining was performed using hematoxylin. Sections from each group incubated without the primary antibody were used as negative controls.

Analysis of the PDL area

The PDL area in the distobuccal root was analyzed after typical serial sections, including the longest root canal, which were selected and measured by a blinded examiner (n=4, respectively) (Figure 2A). Each of the sections was measured with an image scanner connected to a personal computer with image-analyzing program (BZ analyzer, Keyence, Tokyo, Japan).

Quantitative analysis

In immunohistochemically stained sections, the middle onethird palatal aspect of the distobuccal root was photographed using an optical microscope (Biozero, Keyence). Quantitative images were measured by a blinded examiner using image analysis software (BZ analyzer, Keyence). The number of VEGF-positive PDL cells was counted within the rectangular area (100 × 300 μm) by a blinded examiner (n=4, respectively) (Figure 2B).

Statistical analysis

The mean body weight (gt) and number immunopositive PDL cells per area (mm) in the mouse PDL were expressed as means ± standard error of the mean. To determine the significance of differences among the 3 groups, a performed repeated one-way analysis of variance and Tukey–Kramer test were per formed using Statview. (Abacus Concepts Inc., Berkeley, CA). The level of significance was set at level P<0.05.

Results

No significant differences were observed in mean body weights between the 3 groups (Table 1). However, the PDL area was high and significantly larger in CG and RG than in HG (P<0.01), where it was similar to that in RG and CG (Figure 3A). In the recovery process, the PDL increased from days 0, peaked at 7 days and the decreased from days 7 to 28 (Figure 3B). Significant differences in the PDL area were observed between days 0 and 7 (P<0.01), days 7 and 14 (P<0.05), and days 7 and 28 (P<0.01). Histologically, bone resorption lacunae along the alveolar bone were the largest at 7 days (Figure 4A-4F).

Expression of VEGF

The number of VEGF-positive cells was significantly larger in CG and RG than in HG (P<0.01), while the number of these cells was similar in RG and CG (Figure 5A). In the recovery process, the number of VEGF-positive cells was significantly higher after 1 day and peaked on day 7 (P<0.01; Figure 5B). After 7 days, the number of cells significantly decreased until 28 days (P<0.01). Immunohistochemically, the enhanced expression of VEGF was observed in alveolar bone-lining cells, fibroblastic cells, and endothelial cells. The expression of VEGF peaked at 7 days and then decreased from days 7 to 28 (Fig. 6A-6F).

Discussion

The present study was conducted to investigate the influence of occlusal stimuli on the PDL area and expression of VEGF in the PDL. We established experimental hypofunctional conditions in the molar region by using a bite-raising technique [14]. This method made it possible to reestablish occlusion following the removal of appliances. This model of opposite molar extraction was previously used to produce occlusal hypofunction, however, difficulties were associated with recovering normal occlusion. In our experimental model, occlusal hypofunction was induced in the molar area, which caused hypofunctional changes in the PDL. Our results showed that changes in occlusal conditions affected the expression of VEGF, This which may be explained by the complex relationship between occlusal stimuli and the expression of VEGF. VEGF is known to play an important role in angiogenesis [16,19,20]. Previous studies demonstrated that occlusal hypofunction induced a decrease in the expression of VEGF [21-23], which is inconsistent with the results of the presents study. Moreover, several studies using occlusal recovery models revealed the widening of blood vessels in the PDL following the application of occlusal stimuli [12-14]. These findings suggest that VEGF has an important regulatory role in angiogenesis and blood vessel expansion as a mediator of occlusal stimuli. Occlusal stimuli are essential factor for maintaining the structural integrity of the PDL, the function of which is to apply suitable occlusal pressure [1]. Numerous atrophic changes have been reported in the PDL of hypofunctional teeth [2-6], and this atrophy may be recovered after the reapplication of occlusal stimuli in mice [7]. In this study, we histologically showed that the PDL area in HG increased following appliance of and removal and was similar to that in CG. In the recovery process, the PDL area increased from days 0 to 7 and decreased from days 7 to 28. Furthermore, the PDL area peaked after 7 days and the size of alveolar bone resorption lacunae was the largest at 7 days. The number of VEGF-positive cells in the PDL also peaked at 7 days, after which the number of cells decreased to the levels observed in CG. The enhanced expression of VEGF was also observed in alveolar bone-lining cells, fibroblastic cells, and endothelial cells. VEGF is also involved in bone resorption [17,18], playing an important role in the differentiation of mesenchymal cells into osteoblasts [21,22]. These findings indicate that the expression of VEGF induced osteoclasts, and that alveolar bone was resorbed, there by inducing increases in the PDL area until day 7. After 7 days, the expression of VEGF decreased markedly. Therefore, VEGF may play an important role both angiogenesis and in bone remodeling.

Conclusions

The results of the present study suggest that occlusal stimuli regulate the expression of VEGF in PDL cells, and that this growth factor lead to alveolar bone remodeling in PDL.

Tables at a glance

Table 1

Figures at a glance


Figure 1	Figure 2	Figure 3

Figure 4	Figure 5	Figure 6

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