ADHESION MOLECULES IN EPITHELIAL ODONTOGENIC LESIONS

作者：Barreto D C; Carinci F^*; Lo Russo L; Pimenta F J; Perdigao P F; De Marco L; Guida L; Romeo U; Polimeni A; Gomez R S; Lo Muzio L

来源：European Journal of Inflammation, 2011, 9(2): 37-42.

• epithelial odontogenic lesions
• beta-catenin
• P-cadherin
• gamma-catenin

Junctional complexes are important in maintaining epithelial cell polarity and cell-cell interactions and are known to be involved in tooth development; thus the purpose of the present study was to investigate the immunohistochemical profile of beta-catenin, gamma-catenin and P-cadherin in 41 epithelial odontogenic lesions (5 radicular cysts, 17 keratocystic odontogenic tumors, 3 dentigerous cysts, 6 calcifying odontogenic cysts, 9 ameloblastomas and one ameloblastic carcinoma). Positive immunostaining was obtained in all cystic lesions as well as in ameloblastomas for the three proteins. Weak staining of beta-catenin and gamma-catenin and absence of P-cadherin expression were observed in ameloblastic carcinoma. These results denote more cytodifferentiation of odontogenic epithelium in ameloblastoma and let us speculate that loss of P-cadherin expression may have a role in transition from benign (ameloblastoma) to malignant phenotype (ameloblastic carcinoma). Nuclear and cytoplasmic expressions of beta-catenin in half of examined calcifying odontogenic cysts and in ameloblastomas and ameloblastic carcinoma cases suggest deregulation of this protein and reinforce the role of Wnt-beta-catenin-TCF-Lef pathway in the pathogenesis and/or behavior of such lesions.

• 出版日期2011-8