E-cadherin and CD1a expression in gingival epithelium in periodontal health, disease and post-treatment

BACKGROUND: Epithelial integrity is important for maintenance of periodontal health. It is not fully known if non-surgical periodontal therapy is capable of recreating the epithelial barrier in its functional state. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty-five patients (31 males and 34 females) were included in the study. They were divided into group A (healthy gingiva 16 patients), group B (gingivitis 17 patients), group C (periodontitis 17 patients), and group D (post-treatment 15 patients). Gingival samples were collected and immunohistochemical study was done using E-cadherin and CD1a antibody. Statistical analysis was done using analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by Tukey-Kramer multiple comparison test for CD1a and Tukey's highly significant difference (HSD) test for E-cadherin. RESULT: There was a statistically significant difference (P < 0.001) in the expression of E-cadherin between healthy (1.846±0.555), gingivitis (1.100±0.994), and periodontitis group (0.700±0.483). Similarly, there was a statistically significant difference (P < 0.001) in the expression of CD1a between healthy (75.70±3.09), gingivitis (42.53±3.09), and periodontitis group (29.07±3.08). However, the expression of E-cadherin (1.242±0.653) and CD1a in post-treatment samples (52.18±2.90) was lower with no statistically significant difference when compared to health. DISCUSSION: The significant reduction in E-cadherin and CD1a levels in periodontal disease when compared to health could possibly be a result of invasion by the periodontopathogens and its subsequent sequel. Although, the post-treatment samples showed significant improvement when compared to disease, the reduction in E-cadherin and CD1a levels when compared to gingival health suggests that the epithelial barrier was not yet fully established in its functional state.