Abstract
Background. The aim of this study was to investigate myofibroblast (MF) density in a broad spectrum of odontogenic cysts and tumors and the relation between the density of MFs and the clinical behavior of these lesions.Methods. A total of 105 cases of odontogenic lesions, including unicystic ameloblastoma (UAM), solid ameloblastoma (SA), odontogenic keratocyst (OKC), dentigerous cyst (DC), radicular cyst (RC) (15 for each category), and odontogenic myxoma (OM), adenomatoid odontogenic tumor (AOT), calcifying odontogenic cyst (COC) (10 for each category), were immunohistochemically stained with anti-α-smooth muscle actin antibody. The mean percentage of positive cells in 10 high-power fields was considered as MF density for each case.Results. A statistically significant difference was observed in the mean scores between the study groups (P < 0.001). The intensity of MFs was significantly higher in odontogenic tumors compared to odontogenic cysts (P < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference between odontogenic tumors, except between UAM and OM (P = 0.041). The difference between OKC and odontogenic tumors was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). The number of MFs was significantly higher in OKC and lower in COC compared to other odontogenic cysts (P = 0.007 and P = 0.045, respectively).Conclusion. The results of the present study suggest a role for MFs in the aggressive behavior of odontogenic lesions. MFs may represent an important target of therapy, especially for aggressive odontogenic lesions. Our findings support the classification of OKC in the category of odontogenic tumors.
Highlights
Odontogenic lesions are an important aspect of oral and maxillofacial pathology
The results of this study showed an increase in the number of α-SMA-positive cells during carcinogenesis, which suggests the role of these cells in tumor invasive characteristics
Seifi et al[17] in the immunohistochemical evaluation of MFs in oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), oral epithelial dysplasia and hyperkeratosis showed that the number of α-SMA-positive MFs increased during carcinogenesis, which may support the role of MFs in tumor invasiveness
Summary
JODDD, Vol 10, No 1 Winter 2016 tive potentials and high growth and recurrence rates), are important due to the bone destruction they cause.[1,2,3] The pathogenesis of odontogenic lesions is not clearly defined and different cell types may play roles in this process.[2,3] It is well-established that harmonized interactions between the epithelial and stromal cells are critical in controlling the growth and clinical behavior of pathoses.[4,5] Myofibroblasts (MFs) are the important cellular components of the stroma These cells, initially described in the granulation tissue, are fibroblasts that have been specialized by secretion of TGF-β1 and have developed structural features of smooth muscle cells, including the capability to express α-smooth muscle actin.[6,7] Complex interactions exist between MFs and their microenvironment as well as the epithelial cells.
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