Origin of stellate giant cells in oral fibrous lesions determined by immunohistochemical expression of vimentin, HHF-35, CD68 and factor XIIIa

Abstract

To determine the origin of mono-, bi- and multinucleate stellate giant cells in giant cell fibroma, fibrous hyperplasia and fibroepithelial polyp of the oral mucosa. Ten cases of each lesion were studied immunohistochemically using anti-vimentin, -HHF-35, -CD68 and -factor XIIIa antibodies. Immunoreactivity of the cells was determined in the papillary and reticular lamina propria of these lesions. Vimentin positivity in both the papillary and reticular lamina propria was observed for most samples, especially giant cell fibroma cases. The immunohistochemical findings of the present study suggest that the mono-, bi- or multinucleate stellate giant cells observed in the lesions studied derived from the fibroblastic lineage.