The Levels of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 in Dental Pulp Tissue of Healthy and Diabetic Patients

Abstract

Introduction: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP 2) are growth factors (GFs) identified within the dentine-pulp complex and involved into the cellular events connected to the pulp-healing response. It is well established that the expression of these GFs is increased in different tissues in diabetes mellitus. Because there are no data concerning the levels of VEGF and BMP 2 in human dental pulp, the aim of present study was to quantify VEGF and BMP 2 levels in intact dental pulp and dental pulp that underwent reactive dentinogenesis in healthy and diabetic human subjects. Methods: The study was conducted on 28 healthy and 28 subjects with controlled diabetes type II who underwent pulp extirpation as a part of prosthetic rehabilitation. Pulp were collected from intact teeth and teeth treated by indirect pulp capping. The levels of VEGF and BMP 2 were determined in the pulp tissue lysates with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The levels of VEGF and BMP 2 were significantly higher in intact teeth pulp of diabetic than in healthy subjects. The concentrations of these GFs were significantly lowered in teeth with indirect pulp capping both in healthy and diabetic persons. Furthermore, VEGF and BMP 2 levels were in strong positive correlation. Conclusions: Similar changes in the levels of VEGF and BMP 2 in intact and treated teeth of healthy and diabetic patients could be suggestive of associated roles of these GFs in responses of healthy and diabetic dental pulp. (J Endod 2012;38:764-768)