Abstract
Dentinogenesis imperfecta determines structural alterations of the collagen structure still not completely elucidated. Immunohistochemical analysis was used to assay Type I and VI collagen, various non-collagenous proteins distribution in human primary teeth from healthy patients or from patients affected by type I dentinogenesis imperfecta (DGI-I) associated with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI). In sound primary teeth, an organized well-known ordered pattern of the type I collagen fibrils was found, whereas atypical and disorganized fibrillar structures were observed in dentin of DGI-I affected patients. Expression of type I collagen was observed in both normal and affected primary teeth, although normal dentin stained more uniformly than DGI-I affected dentin. Reactivity of type VI collagen was significantly lower in normal teeth than in dentin from DGI-I affected patients (P<0.05). Expressions of dentin matrix protein (DMP)-1 and osteopontin (OPN) were observed in both normal dentin and dentin from DGI-I affected patients, without significant differences, being DMP1 generally more abundantly expressed. Immunolabeling for chondroitin sulfate (CS) and biglycan (BGN) was weaker in dentin from DGI-I-affected patients compared to normal dentin, this decrease being significant only for CS. This study shows ultrastructural alterations in dentin obtained from patients affected by DGI-I, supported by immunocytochemical assays of different collagenous and non-collagenous proteins.