Innervation of recurrent aphthous ulcers

Abstract

Specimens from nonkeratinized oral mucosa were obtained from diseased and clinically healthy mucosa from 7 patients with minor recurrent aphthous ulcers. The innervation of the specimens was visualized using antibodies to neuron-specific intermediate cytoskeletal neurofilament fiber, the cytoplasmic protein gene product 9.5 and a 38 kDa integral membrane protein of synaptic vesicles applied in avidin-biotin-peroxidase staining. Mapping with these 3 antibodies revealed dense and basically similar pattern of innervation in the specimens of the clinically healthy oral mucosa. In recurrent aphthous ulcers, all 3 general markers disclosed peripheral nerve fibers also in the lesions, apart from the necrotic area, among the inflammatory cells without signs of retraction from the diseased area. Synaptophysin staining suggested that these peripheral nerve fibers in the inflammatory areas still contained synaptic vesicles. Accordingly, they were shown to contain substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide, which are known to be released upon stimulation of the nerve and can exert potent paracrine actions, possibly on the local inflammatory cells as suggested by a close spatial relationship between neuropeptide-containing nerves and inflammatory cells.

IL‐17C and its receptor IL‐17RA/IL‐17RE identify human oral epithelial cell as an inflammatory cell in recurrent aphthous ulcer

“…The inflammatory cell infiltrates around the ulcer contain many neutrophils, whereas most of the mononuclear cells are CD3 + T lymphocytes, CD11b + and non‐specific esterase + macrophages and CD19 + B lymphocytes, in this ranking order . Dendritic cells , γδ T cells , mast cells and nerve fibres are also present. The local immune–inflammatory cells carry activation markers and produce pro‐inflammatory chemokine and cytokines .…”

Disorder‐specific changes in innervation in oral lichen planus and lichenoid reactions

“…The theory of neurogenic inflammation offers an interesting approach to inflammatory diseases (9,29,30). Involvement of the nervous system in chronic inflammation has been studied in several diseases, such as Sjögren's syndrome (31,32), human rheumatoid arthritis and adjuvant-induced rodent arthritis (18-20, 33, 34), psoriasis (35,36), and other diseases (37). To our knowledge, few reports concerning possible neurogenic factors associated with OLP and LR have appeared previously.…”

Intraepidermale freie Nervenfaserendigungen und deren Bedeutung für den Hautschmerz

“…Angesichts der umstrittenen Aufgaben dieser Nervenfasern stellt sich letztendlich auch die Frage nach der Polymodalität intraepidermaler FNE, d.h. inwieweit manche Fasern sowohl auf thermische, mechanische bzw. chemische Reize reagieren können; dies gilt insbesondere auch für die Nozizeption [22].…”

“…Möglicherweise könnte letztere Funktion lediglich für eine Subpopulation von intraepidermalen Nervenfaserendigungen entsprechend ihrer Immunreaktivität für Substanz P zutreffen [23]. Auch für CGRP-positive Nervenfasern wird eine Rolle bei der Nozizeption diskutiert [22]. In diesem Zusammenhang muß erwähnt werden, daß sensiblen freien Nervenfaserendigungen aufgrund ihres Gehalts an Neuropeptiden auch zusätzliche effektorische Aufgaben wie z.B.…”