Transcriptional profiles of SHH pathway genes in keratocystic odontogenic tumor and ameloblastoma.

BACKGROUND: Sonic hedgehog (SHH) pathway activation has been identified as a key factor in the development of many types of tumors, including odontogenic tumors. Our study examined the expression of genes in the SHH pathway to characterize their roles in the pathogenesis of keratocystic odontogenic tumors (KOT) and ameloblastomas (AB). METHODS: We quantified the expression of SHH, SMO, PTCH1, SUFU, GLI1, CCND1, and BCL2 genes by qPCR in a total of 23 KOT, 11 AB, and three non-neoplastic oral mucosa (NNM). We also measured the expression of proteins related to this pathway (CCND1 and BCL2) by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: We observed overexpression of SMO, PTCH1, GLI1, and CCND1 genes in both KOT (23/23) and AB (11/11). However, we did not detect expression of the SHH gene in 21/23 KOT and 10/11 AB tumors. Low levels of the SUFU gene were expressed in KOT (P = 0.0199) and AB (P = 0.0127) relative to the NNM. Recurrent KOT exhibited high levels of SMO (P = 0.035), PTCH1 (P = 0.048), CCND1 (P = 0.048), and BCL2 (P = 0.045) transcripts. Using immunolabeling of CCND1, we observed no statistical difference between primary and recurrent KOT (P = 0.8815), sporadic and NBCCS-KOT (P = 0.7688), and unicystic and solid AB (P = 0.7521). CONCLUSIONS: Overexpression of upstream (PTCH1 and SMO) and downstream (GLI1, CCND1 and BCL2) genes in the SHH pathway leads to the constitutive activation of this pathway in KOT and AB and may suggest a mechanism for the development of these types of tumors.

Distribution of mast cells in benign odontogenic tumors.

The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of mast cells in a series of odontogenic tumors. Forty-five cases of odontogenic tumors were investigated using immunohistochemistry for mast cell triptase, and differences between groups were statistically evaluated. Mast cells were present in 96% of odontogenic tumors. Mast cells present in solid ameloblastoma were observed in the tumor stroma surrounding more solid and follicular epithelial islands, with or without squamous metaplasia. The odontogenic mixoma showed few mast cells. In odontogenic tumors with a cystic structure, the mast cells were distributed throughout all areas of the lesions, mainly in keratocystic odontogenic tumor. In addition, the total density of mast cells between all odontogenic tumors showed no significant difference (p > 0.05). A greater mast cells distribution was found in keratocystic odontogenic tumor in relation to adenomatoid odontogenic tumor (p < 0.01), and when the unicystic ameloblastoma and keratocistic odontogenic tumor were compared to the odontogenic myxoma (p < 0.05). Syndrome keratocystic odontogenic tumor showed a higher mean of mast cells when compared with the other tumors of the sample. Mast cells values presented by syndrome keratocystic odontogenic tumor were significantly greater than those of the sporadic keratocystic odontogenic tumor that were not associated with the syndrome (p = 0.03). Mast cells are probably one of the major components of the stromal scaffold in odontogenic tumors. We found significant differences of mast cells between syndrome nonsyndrome keratocystic odontogenic tumors, although their distribution did not seem to have any influence on the biologic behavior of benign odontogenic tumors.

Altered expression of cytokeratins in primary, recurrent and syndrome keratocystic odontogenic tumors.

Keratocystic odontogenic tumor (KOT) is a benign cystic tumor that affects the jaw bones and may be associated with the nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome (NBCCS). Twenty-five cases diagnosed as KOT, including primary and recurrent tumors and those associated with NBCCS, were submitted to immunohistochemical study for analysis of cytokeratins (CKs) 7, 8, 10, 13, 14, 18 and 19. The results showed CK13 immunostained on the intermediate layers and upper cells. CK14 was expressed in all epithelial layers and in those areas where inflammation and subepithelial splits were present; this protein was preserved within the basal cells. CK 18 was expressed mainly in the basal layer, whereas CK19 was expressed mainly on the intermediate and superficial layers. The remaining CKs tested were not immuoreactive. The status of maturation of cytokeratin seems to be altered on KOTs, and this is not distinct when different tumors are compared.

Identificação dos transcritos e proteínas glipicans 1, 3 e 4 em carcinoma escamocelular de boca: associação com moléculas Hedgehog e Vegfa / Identification of transcripts and proteins glypican 1, 3 and 4 in oral squamous cell carcinoma: association with Hedgehog and VEGFA molecules

INTRODUÇÃO: A Via Hedgehog (HH) está ativada em algumas neoplasias humanas, incluindo o Carcinoma Escamocelular de Boca (CEB), o qual corresponde a mais de 95% dos casos diagnosticados na cavidade bucal. Os glipicans (GPC) participam como reguladores desta cascata, atenuando (GPC1 e GPC3) ou regulando positivamente (GPC5) a via HH. OBJETIVO: O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o perfil de expressão dos genes GPC1, 3 e 5, associando-os com genes da via HH (SHH, PTCH1 e SMO) e VEGFA, bem como caracterizar a imunoexpressão das proteínas GPC, em CEB. MATERIAL E MÉTODOS: Trinta e um casos de CEB foram submetidas a reações de qPCR para os genes SHH, PTCH1, SMO, VEGFA, GPC1, 3 e 5. O RNA total foi extraído utilizando uma coluna composta por membrana de silica (Rneasy Mini Kit). O DNA complementar foi obtido com auxílio da enzima Superscript Vilo™. As reações de qPCR foram conduzidas no aparelho ViiA™ 7 Real-Time PCR System utilizando o sistema Taqman, sendo a quantificação relativa avaliada pelo método comparativo de Cq (ΔΔCQ). Vinte e seis CEBs, 9 casos de margens tumorais (MAT) e 4 casos de mucosa bucal não neoplásica (MNN) foram submetidos à reação imuno-histoquímica para as proteínas GPC1, GPC3, GPC5, CD105 e MCM3...

INTRODUCTION: The Hedgehog pathway is activated in some human neoplasms, including Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC), which account for more than 95% of all oral cancers diagnosed. Glypicans are involved in the regulation of HH pathway through GPC3 e GPC1 downregulation or/and GPC5 upregulation. AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression profile of GPC1, 3 and 5 genes, correlating to HH and VEGFA gene, even as to characterize the immunoexpression of these proteins at OSCC. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 31 cases of OSCC were assessed by qPCR for the SHH, PTCH1, SMO, VEGFA, GPC1, GPC3 and GPC5 genes. The total RNA were extracted using silica membrane column (Rneasy Mini Kit). Complementary DNA was obtained using of Superscript ™ Vilo enzyme. The qPCR reactions were performed in VIIA™ 7 Real-Time PCR System using the Taqman enzime, and relative quantification (RQ) was evaluated by the comparative method of Cq (ΔΔCQ). Immunohistochemical reactions for GPC1, GPC3, GPC5, MCM3 and CD105...