Immunoexpression of Glucose Transporters 1 and 3 and Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor in Central and Peripheral Giant Cell Lesions of the Jaws

Abstract

The peripheral giant cell lesion (PGCL) is a reactive process associated with a local irritating factor that shows low recurrence after treatment, especially if the irritating factor is eliminated. In contrast, the central giant cell lesion (CGCL) presents variable clinical behavior ranging from slow and asymptomatic growth without recurrence to rapid, painful, and recurrent growth. The immunoexpression of glucose transporter (GLUT)-1, GLUT-3, and macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) was compared in CGCL and PGCL. Twenty nonaggressive CGCLs, 20 aggressive CGCLs, and 20 PGCLs were selected for analysis of the immunoexpression of GLUT-1, GLUT-3, and M-CSF in multinuclear giant cells (MGCs) and mononuclear cells (MCs). There was a difference in the percentage of immunoreactive cells of GLUT-1 and GLUT-3 in MC components among lesions and in the intensity of GLUT-1 in MCG and MC components, GLUT-3 in MGC components, and M-CSF in MC components. These results suggest that GLUT-1, GLUT-3, and M-CSF could play a role in the pathogenesis of the lesions studied. The stronger immunostaining of these proteins in MCs shows that these cells have greater metabolic activity and osteoclastogenesis, especially in aggressive CGCL. The MCs showed a stronger relation than the MGCs to the pathogenesis of the studied lesions.