Relationship between percentage of regulatory T-cells and dental amalgam fillings.

Fahad Khaliq,Faheem Shahzad,Muhammad Kashif,Nadeem Afzal

doi:10.17126/joralres.2016.034

Abstract

Introduction: Regulatory T-cells are the main component of peripheral tolerance and their level is decreased in autoimmunity. In dental amalgam, a mixture of metals is used as a restorative material. During daily activities, these metals are ingested and affect renal, neurosensory and immune systems. Studies have demonstrated an increased risk of autoimmune diseases in patients with dental amalgam fillings. It was hypothesized that the percentage of regulatory T-cells decreases in individuals with amalgam fillings. Therefore this study was designed to determine and compare the percentage of regulatory T-cells in individuals with and without amalgam fillings. Material and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. Subjects were divided into two groups with each group consisting of 40 individuals. Group I (study group) comprised individuals with amalgam fillings, and Group II (control group), individuals without amalgam fillings in their teeth. Blood samples of all the participants were collected and tagged with CD4‑FITC, CD25‑PE and CD127‑PerCP-Cy monoclonal antibodies for the detection of regulatory T-cells, FACSCalibur was used for this purpose. Results: The percentage of regulatory T-cells in the control group was high (77.77 ± 5.54 %) compared to the study group (76.09 ± 7.68 %), however, on comparison, the difference was not statistically significant ( p =0.25). Conclusion: Dental amalgam fillings did not show a declining effect on the percentage of regulatory T-cells.

Highlights

Introduction: Regulatory T-cells are the main component of peripheral tolerance and their level is decreased in autoimmunity
Blood samples of all the participants were collected and tagged with CD4‐Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC), CD25‐PE and CD127‐PerCP-Cy monoclonal antibodies for the detection of regulatory T-cells, FACSCalibur was used for this purpose
Patients with amalgam restorations were included in the study group, and subjects without dental fillings were taken as the control group

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Khaliq F, Afzal N, Kashif M & Shahzad F. Relationship between percentage of regulatory T-cells and dental amalgam fillings. High concentrations of Hg and other constituents of amalgam are linked with dysfunction of the nervous, gastrointestinal, haematologic, reproductive, immune and respiratory systems[9,10]. The immune system is affected by dental amalgam because it continuously releases mercury as described earlier. Due to its high mercury content, dental amalgam has been associated with increased incidence of autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus, Crohn’s disease, lichen planus and endometriosis[11,12]. It has been hypothesized that amalgam fillings downregulate the number of regulatory T-cells, which may cause autoimmune diseases. This study was designed to determine and compare the percentage of regulatory Tcells in subjects with and without dental amalgam fillings

MATERIALS AND METHODS

DISCUSSION