Detection of TNF-α in human dental pulps suffered from advanced caries

Objective To investigate the level of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)in normal human dental pulps,pulps suffered from caries,and inflamed pulp tissues to examine possible relationship between the TNF-α and caries.Methods Pulps were obtained from three groups of teeth,including 30 healthy teeth,38 carious teeth and 32 teeth with root caries pulpitis.Pulp tissues were collected,prepared,and analyzed for TNF-α concentration by ELISA technique.Results TNF-α was detected in the normal and caries and inflamed pulp tissues.The content of TNF-α was(45.67)±(23.35pg/g) for normal dental pulp,(338.96)±(87.54pg/g) for caries,and(975.13)±(362.87pg/g) for inflamed pulp tissues.There were significant differences in TNF-α concentration between the normal dental pulps and the carious teeht(P(0.01));between the normal and the inflamed pulp tissues(P(0.01));and between the carious and inflamed pulp tissues(P(0.05)).Conclusion TNF-α was evidenced in the active carious lesion and in the inflamed pulp tissues.TNF-α can be an important marker for determining pulp inflammation as the result of caries.