Expression of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) mRNA in healthy bone tissue around implants and in peri-implantitis

Peri-implantitis is an inflammatory process involving peri-implant bone. Angiogenesis is critical for the development, remodeling and healing of bone. Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) is a glycoprotein that induces endothelial cell proliferation, angiogenesis and capillary permeability. VEGF is expressed in a variety of highly vascularized tissues and seems to be a prerequisite for tumor growth and invasion. VEGF takes part in bone cell differentiation and by promoting angiogenesis at the site of bone formation. Aim of the present study was an evaluation of VEGF mRNA in bone around healthy and failing dental implants. Twenty patients participated in this study. Twenty bone biopsies were obtained, 10 at second-stage surgery from bone covering the healing screws (control), and 10 from implants presenting the typical signs and symptoms for peri-implantitis lesions (test). VEGF mRNA levels were not present in any of the controls, while it was identified in all tissues obtained from test implants. The difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Our results point to the fact that VEGF may be important in the regulation of tissue healing and bone remodeling in the peri-implantitis lesions because VEGF has been reported to play a role in the formation and attraction of osteoclasts, and osteoclasts have been shown to be a prominent feature of the peri-implantitis lesions.