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This study was undertaken to evaluate the type of tissue obtained after transplantation of a connective tissue graft, from the same palatal donor site, into a non-keratinized oral mucosa in humans. In 6 human volunteers, a thick palatal epithelio-connective tissue graft was excised, split into two thinner grafts (a thin epithelio-connective tissue graft and a connective tissue graft) and transplanted into controlateral areas lacking keratinized gingiva. The biopsies, excised 3 months post-operatively, were examined using routine histology, immunofluorescence techniques with different anticytokeratin antibodies and biochemical techniques with non-equilibrium two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. The results show that the epithelio-connective tissue grafts display the histological and biochemical characteristics of keratinized gingiva, whereas the connective tissue grafts expressed features belonging both to keratinized and non-keratinized gingival tissues, It is concluded that the deep palatal connective tissue does not have the full potential to induce non-keratinized epithelial cells to keratinize and that a gingival or palatal connective tissue graft without its overlying epithelium is not likely to yield genuine attached gingiva. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study uses cytokeratins (CK) as markers to investigate the phenotype of the junctional epithelium (JE) in partially erupted human teeth. The gingival samples, which were clinically healthy, were carefully dissected from the teeth. Cryostat sections were cut for histological staining, immunofluorescence microscopy and gel electrophoresis. Cytokeratins were extracted after microdissection. The basal and suprabasal epithelial cell markers, cytokeratins 4, 5, 13, 14 and 19 were detected with specific monoclonal antibodies. They showed that the junctional epithelium in erupting teeth has a complex topography. The cytokeratin immunohistochemical profile distinguished between the primary junctional epithelium (CK 5, 14 and 19 in basal and suprabasal cells and CK 13 faintly stained throughout the suprabasal layers) and the adjacent epithelium that had the same cytokeratin profile as the sulcular epithelium (CK 5, 14 and 19 in basal cells and CK 4 and 13 intensively stained in the suprabasal cells). Extraction, two-dimensional electrophoresis and western blotting showed that this transitional JE during eruption also contained CK 6, 16 and perhaps CK 4. Thus, the JE in erupting teeth shows patterns of CK distribution that are very similar to that of developing oral epithelia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study uses cytokeratins (CK) as markers to investigate the phenotype of the junctional epithelium (JE) in partially erupted human teeth. The gingival samples, which were clinically healthy, were carefully dissected from the teeth. Cryostat sections were cut for histological staining, immunofluorescence microscopy and gel electrophoresis. Cytokeratins were extracted after microdissection. The basal and suprabasal epithelial cell markers, cytokeratins 4, 5, 13, 14 and 19 were detected with specific monoclonal antibodies. They showed that the junctional epithelium in erupting teeth has a complex topography. The cytokeratin immunohistochemical profile distinguished between the primary junctional epithelium (CK 5, 14 and 19 in basal and suprabasal cells and CK 13 faintly stained throughout the suprabasal layers) and the adjacent epithelium that had the same cytokeratin profile as the sulcular epithelium (CK 5, 14 and 19 in basal cells and CK 4 and 13 intensively stained in the suprabasal cells). Extraction, two-dimensional electrophoresis and western blotting showed that this transitional JE during eruption also contained CK 6, 16 and perhaps CK 4. Thus, the JE in erupting teeth shows patterns of CK distribution that are very similar to that of developing oral epithelia.