title: Immunohistochemical demonstration of bcl-2 protein in human tooth germs.
abstract: This study sought to detect patterns of bcl-2 protein expression that could provide more insight into the cellular dynamics of tooth development. As bcl-2 serves to prevent cell death, its occurrence in odontogenic tissues might be helpful in identifying cell populations from which odontogenic tumours may arise. The bcl-2 protein was found only in the epithelial part of the tooth germ and was present in all parts of the enamel organ except the ameloblast. This suggests that bcl-2 protein plays a part in maintaining the viability of the enamel organ. The presence of bcl-2 in the fully matured tooth germ and adjacent dental lamina might indicate that epithelial odontogenic tumours may originate from various parts of the enamel organ.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University Hospital, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Slootweg
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: de Weger
mesh_terms: D004658:Enamel Organ / Q000737:chemistry / Q000196:embryology; D004848:Epithelium / Q000737:chemistry; D005333:Fetus; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D009805:Odontogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D014083:Tooth Germ / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000196:embryology
chemical_list: D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins