Interleukin 17 expression in periapical lesions from elderly patients.

Objective: To compare the expression of IL-17 in periapical lesions (cysts and granulomas) among elderly individuals and adults. We selected 20 periapical lesions of the elderly (12 granulomas and eight cysts) and 20 periapical lesions of adults (12 granulomas and eight cysts).
Materials and Methods: Immunohistochemistry was performed using a specific antibody for IL-17. The slides were subdivided into five high magnification fields and then the images were observed through an optical microscope. According to the number of positive markings for the antibody, grades were given, ranging from 0 to 2.
Results: The results demonstrate that there was no statistical difference when comparing the expression of IL-17 between cysts and granulomas of both groups (study group: cysts 0.7 ± 0.21 × granulomas 0.96 ± 0.58, p = .61; control group: cysts 0.37 ± 0.16 × granulomas 0.31 ± 0.23, p = .27). The comparison between adult (control group) and elderly patients (study group) showed a statistical difference both in cysts (study group: 0.7 ± 0.21 × control group: 0.37 ± 0.16, p = .007) and in granulomas (study group: 0.96 ± 0.58 × control group: 0.31 ± 0.23, p = .0009), in which elderly patients had a higher expression of interleukin 17, in relation to adult patients.
Conclusion: We concluded that elderly patients have a higher expression of IL-17 in both cysts and granulomas, when compared to adult patients.
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