Real-time Fluorescence Quantitative Expression Analysis Of Bcl-2 And Bax Genes In Different Types Of Epulis

[Objective] As a special clinical manifestation of non-drug-induced gingival hyperplasia, epulis is an inflammatory tumor-like mass of the gingiva. The study has found that the apoptosis inhibition plays an important role in gingival hyperplasia, especially in drug-induced gingival hyperplasia. The goal of this study is to investigate that if the apoptosis inhibition of anti-apoptotic gene bcl-2 and pro-apoptotic gene bax would have participated in the pathogenesis of different types of epulis.[Methods] 47 cases of epulis were collected and 21 cases of healthy gingival tissue were served as the control. According to the pathological classification, epulis were further divided into three subgroups:18 cases of granulomatous epulis,8 cases of vascular epulis and 21 cases of fibrous epulis. The bcl-2 and bax genes mRNA expression in all the samples were detected by Real-time fluorescence quantitative and compared with the differences of bcl-2/bax ratio.[Results] The total epulis bcl-2 and bax genes expression were both lower and bcl-2/bax ratio was higher than those in the healthy control (P<0.05). In granulomatous epulis bcl-2 and bax genes expression were both lower than those in the healthy control (P>0.05); bcl-2/bax ratio was higher than those in the healthy control (P<0.05). In vascular epulis bcl-2 gene expression and bcl-2/bax ratio were both higher and bax gene expression was lower than those in the healthy control (P<0.05). In fibrous epulis bcl-2 gene expression and bcl-2/bax ratio were both lower and bax gene expression was higher than those in the healthy control (P<0.05).[Conclusions] The pathogenesis of epulis involves apoptosis inhibition, but different specific mechanisms present in various types of epulis. Therefore the anti-apoptotic gene bcl-2 and the pro-apoptotic gene bax might play a major role in granulomatous and vascular epulis.