Transferrin reactivity in oral mucosa adjacent to different dental restorations.

Transferrin (TF) is a metal-binding protein that has been detected in human mucosal tissues. Positive TF reactivity has been related to iron transport, epithelial keratinization, and the non-specific defense system of mucosal membranes. An immunoperoxidase staining technique was used to study the distribution of TF in buccal mucosa adjacent to different metallic restorations (62 cases) to assess the nature of tissue changes possibly attributable to dental materials. The transferrin reactivity in the oral epithelium of 10 patients with galvanic symptoms was also determined. The results showed an obvious shift in TF reactivity from weak to strong in patients with complete dentures and in those with galvanic symptoms when compared with controls. The results are discussed in terms of epithelial cell proliferation and keratinization and of the role of TF in chelating free metallic ions.