FU-MEI HUANGCHIA-MIN LIUYU-CHAO CHANG2026-10-162026-10-162005-05-01Pure ID: 15048719Pure UUID: 74c0dec4-907b-4191-bb98-ade46435c9ba10.1111/j.1365-2591.2005.00951.xhttps://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/19044368159https://scholars.csmu.edu.tw/handle/123456789/28863Aim: To compare tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) expression in normal human pulp and inflamed human pulp tissue specimens. Methodology: Thirty pulpal tissue specimens (13 normal and 17 inflamed pulps) were obtained from extracted third molars. The levels of t-PA between normal pulp and inflamed pulp tissues were compared using the quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction analysis. In addition, immunohistochemistry was used to identify the in situ localization of t-PA expression in pulp specimens. Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney rank sum test was applied for the statistical analysis of the results. Results: t-PA mRNA gene was found more in inflamed pulps when compared with normal pulp tissue (P < 0.05). The results from immunohistochemistry demonstrated that t-PA expression was significantly higher in the inflamed pulp (P = 0.025). t-PA stain was detected in the fibroblasts, inflammatory infiltrates and endothelial cells. Conclusions: t-PA expression was significantly higher in inflamed pulp tissue. t-PA may play an important role in the pathogenesis of pulpal inflammation.6enjournal article