Correlation between Helicobacter pylori infection and apoptosis in gingival tissues

AIM:To observe the effects of Helicobacter pylori(Hp) on the apoptosis of human gingival tissue.METHODS:Gingival tissue samples were taken from 30 patients without chronic periodontitis,and Hp was detected by conventional PCR.The apoptosis of the gingivival cells was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) to analyze the correlation between Hp infection and apoptosis of the gingival tissues.RESULTS:The Hp positive detections were 12 in the 30 patients without periodontitis,so the positive rate of Hp in the gingival tissue samples was 40%.The gingival tissue showed a large number of apoptotic cells in Hp positive group,and less apoptotic cells in Hp negative group.The apoptotic index in Hp positive group (0.498±0.092) was significantly higher than that in normal group (0.207±0.053)(P<0.05).CONCLUSION:Hp might play a role in the apoptosis of gingival tissues.