Expression of regulatory apoptotic proteins in peripheral giant cell granulomas and lesions containing osteoclast-like giant cells.
Peripheral giant cell granuloma consists of mononuclear cells and osteoclast-like giant cells. The proliferative ability of peripheral giant cell granuloma is restricted to the mononuclear cell compartment, whereas multinucleated giant cells lack mitotic activity. Although the proliferative compartment of peripheral giant cell granuloma has been investigated in detail, the expression and distribution of proteins regulating apoptosis is unknown. The present study demonstrates strong expression of bak and bax in the majority of giant cells. In contrast, giant cells show only weak positivity for bcl-2 and moderate positivity for bcl-x. Mononuclear cells were negative to weakly positive for bcl-x. Only scattered mononuclear cells were positive for bak, bax and bcl-2. The frequency of apoptotic nuclei detected by TUNEL-staining compared to regular nuclei was 18 times higher in giant cells than in mononuclear cells. In summary, our findings support the presumption that giant cells of bone and soft tissue tumors are reactive cell forms and not of neoplastic origin.
Department of Clinical Pathology, University of Vienna, Graz, Austria.
J
J
Pammer
W
W
Weninger
H
H
Hulla
P
P
Mazal
R
R
Horvat
D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics*; D017824:Bone Cysts, Aneurysmal / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002455:Cell Division / Q000235:genetics; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D018212:Giant Cell Tumor of Bone / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015726:Giant Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006101:Granuloma, Giant Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D008938:Mitosis / Q000235:genetics; D010010:Osteoclasts / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics; D013586:Synovitis, Pigmented Villonodular / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D050998:bcl-2 Homologous Antagonist-Killer Protein; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D051020:bcl-X Protein; D000097382:CD68 Molecule
D015703:Antigens, CD; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D050998:bcl-2 Homologous Antagonist-Killer Protein; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D051020:bcl-X Protein; C494772:BAK1 protein, human; C494826:BAX protein, human; C494811:BCL2L1 protein, human; C067980:CD68 antigen, human; D000097382:CD68 Molecule