The number of immune cells is lower in healthy oral mucosa compared to skin and does not increase after scarring

• Published in: Archives of oral biology Vol. 60; no. 2; pp. 272 - 281
• Main Authors: Glim, Judith E, Beelen, Robert H.J, Niessen, Frank B, Everts, Vincent, Ulrich, Magda M.W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01-02-2015
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Advanced Basic Science; Child; Child, Preschool; Cicatrix - immunology; Dentistry; Female; Fibrosis; Humans; Immune cells; Macrophages - immunology; Male; Mast Cells - immunology; Middle Aged; Mouth Mucosa - blood supply; Mouth Mucosa - cytology; Neutrophils - immunology; Scars; Skin - blood supply; Skin - cytology; T-Lymphocytes - immunology; Wound healing; platelet derived growth factor; IL; Wound healing; MR; oral mucosa; VEGF; stabilin-1; alpha smooth muscle actin; TNF; α-SMA; TGF; Scars; Stab-1; vascular endothelial growth factor; PDGF; Fibrosis; tumour necrosis factor; interleukin; transforming growth factor; Immune cells; mannose receptor; OM
• ISSN: 0003-9969; 1879-1506
• DOI: 10.1016/j.archoralbio.2014.10.008

Highlights • The number of several immune cells was compared between human skin and oral mucosa. • Oral mucosa had significantly fewer immune cells than skin. • More blood vessels were present in the oral mucosa compared to skin. • Scars contained similar numbers of immune cells compared to healthy tissues. • Less immune cells in the healthy oral mucosa could improve repair.