Unique Clinical Features of Hereditary Gingival Fibromatosis Withelevated Expression of Human β-Defensin-2 and -3 in Gingival Epithelia

Abstract Background: Hereditary gingival fibromatosis (HGF), a rare benign oral condition, has several adverse consequences such as aesthetic changes, malocclusion, speech impediments, and abnormal dentition . H owever, relatively few studies have addressed the beneficial effects of thick gingival tissues on resisting external stimuli. Patients with HGF commonly manifest a ‘healthy’ gingiva , and the aetiology and pathogenesis of this condition remain unclear. H uman β-defensins (hBDs) are known to play a pivotal role in the clearance and killing of various microbes and contribute to maintaining a harmonious oral environment, which is currently an emerg ing research focus. We previously performed an immunohistochemi cal analysis of gingival tissues from a multigenerational family with non-syndromic HGFs (NHGF) . However , the expression pattern and localisation of hBD-2 and - 3 in patients with NHGF has not been reported. Methods: Gingival tissue was paraffin embedding, sectioned, and then the expression and localisation of hBD-2 and -3 in the gingival epithelium of patients with HGF and normal individuals were compared using immunohistochemistry (IHC) with descriptive and quantitative analysis. Results: The immunohistochemical staining showed a statistically significant increase in hBD-2 and 3 in gingiva l tissue derived from patients with HGF. Conclusion: Our current findings provide evidence to support the novel hypothesis that certain gene mutations of the HGF lead to relatively elevated expression levels of hBDs, which may be beneficial in protect ing oral tissue from external stimuli and promot ing periodontal regeneration.