Immunolocalization of collagenase in periodontal disease

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Abstract
Immunoreactive collagenase was detected in four of eight specimens of diseased gingival tissue when sampled prior to treatment. Specimens taken From patients who had previously received initial therapy and whose tissues showed no clinical signs of inflammation, showed insignificant immunoreactive collagenase. All specimens were frozen within minutes of surgery. The enzyme was associated with connective tissue adjacent to the pocket epithelium and at the advancing front of the lesion. No enzyme was observed in association with intact gingival epithelium, Immunoreactive enzyme was frequently associated with inflammatory cells but the precise cellular origin of collagenase remains uncertain. These findings demonstrate the presence of tissue collagenase at sites of active collagen resorption thereby suggesting a degradative role for this enzyme in periodontal disease.