Histological assessment and gene expression analysis of intra-oral soft tissue graft donor sites

Sandra Stuhr, Felipe Nör, Kareem Gayar, Emilio Couso-Queiruga, Leandro Chambrone, Iñaki Gamborena, Purnima Kumar, Gustavo Avila-Ortiz, Sukirth M. Ganesan

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Aim: To determine the structural and gene expression features of different intra-oral soft tissue donor sites (i.e., anterior palate, posterior palate, maxillary tuberosity and retromolar pad). Materials and Methods: Standardized mucosal tissue punch biopsies were collected from at least one donor site per subject. Histological processing was performed to determine tissue morphometry and quantify collagen composition. Site-specific gene distribution was mapped using targeted gene expression analysis and validated using real time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Results: A total of 50 samples from 37 subjects were harvested. Epithelial thickness did not differ between sites. However, lamina propria was thicker in the maxillary tuberosity (2.55 ± 0.92 mm) and retromolar pad (1.98 ± 0.71 mm) than in the lateral palate. Type I collagen was the predominant structural protein in the lamina propria (75.06%–80.21%). Genes involving collagen maturation and extracellular matrix regulation were highly expressed in the maxillary tuberosity and retromolar pad, while lipogenesis-associated genes were markedly expressed in the lateral palate. The retromolar pad showed the most distinct gene expression profile, and the anterior and posterior palate displayed similar transcription profiles. Conclusions: Tissue samples harvested from the anterior and posterior palate differed morphologically from those from the maxillary tuberosity and retromolar pad. Each intra-oral site showed a unique gene expression profile, which might impact their biological behaviour and outcomes of soft tissue augmentation procedures.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1360-1370
Number of pages11
JournalJournal of Clinical Periodontology
Volume50
Issue number10
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2023

Keywords

  • connective tissue
  • gene expression
  • histology
  • oral mucosa
  • phenotype
  • Humans
  • Collagen
  • Palate/anatomy & histology
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Connective Tissue/transplantation
  • Mucous Membrane

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