Expression of cytokeratin 14, cytokeratin 19 and E-Cadherin in ameloblastoma correlates with the cytodifferentiation of enamel organ

Abstract

ObjectiveTo analyze the bell stage of human tooth germ and ameloblastoma to determine the level of morphological differentiation in the constituting cells of the enamel organ and ameloblastoma. Study designThe study included 10 tooth germs from 5 human fetuses (20–24 weeks) and 20 tissue samples of ameloblastoma retrieved from the archives. The morphological characteristics of both tooth germs and ameloblastomas were evaluated by routine sections and immunohistochemistry using CK14, CK19 and E-cadherin. ResultsAll the sections of the tooth germs and ameloblastomas positively stained with the markers employed in this study. The CK14 stained all cellular elements within the enamel organ, but expression of CK19 was limited to the outer enamel epithelium and inner enamel epithelium cell lineage. The reaction with E-cadherin was variable in the tooth germs examined. All tissue samples of ameloblastoma reacted to CK14, CK19 and E-cadherin. However, CK14 reacted intensely in all the tumors cells while the reaction with other markers was variable depending on the cell types in a given tumor. ConclusionThe present study demonstrates that expression of CK14, CK19 and E-cadherin in the enamel organ and ameloblastoma share similar cytodifferentiation features.