title: Distribution of basement membrane type IV collagen alpha chains in ameloblastoma: an immunofluorescence study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Type IV collagen, a heterotrimeric molecule that exists in six genetically distinct forms, alpha1(IV)-alpha6(IV) is a major structural component of basement membrane (BM) and acts as a scaffold for other BM constituents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Indirect immunofluorescence using alpha chain-specific monoclonal antibodies was employed to clarify basement membrane (BM) collagen IV distribution in two ameloblastoma, and for comparison, on oral mucosa and tooth germ.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ameloblastoma BM expressed five of six genetically distinct forms of collagen IV: alpha1(IV), alpha2(IV), alpha5(IV) and alpha6(IV) chains occurred as intense linear stainings without disruption around neoplastic epithelium, and this expression pattern was fundamentally similar to oral mucosa BM; alpha4(IV) expression was rare and occurred around nests of primitive tumor cells or potentially invasive sites. The tooth germ demonstrated a stage- and position-specific collagen IV distribution: the inner enamel epithelium BM expressed alpha1(IV), alpha2(IV), and alpha4(IV) except in the cuspal predentine region; and the outer enamel epithelium BM expressed alpha1(IV), alpha2(IV), alpha5(IV), and alpha6(IV) chains.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results suggest that collagen IV alpha chain distribution in ameloblastoma BM plays an important role in tumor cytodifferentiation and progression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology and Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine and Dentistry, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan.
authors.forename: Keisuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakano
authors.forename: Chong Huat
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Siar
authors.forename: Noriyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nagai
authors.forename: Ichiro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Naito
authors.forename: Yoshikazu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sado
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nagatsuka
authors.forename: Choufuku
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hoh
authors.forename: Katsuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kurada
authors.forename: Hidetsugu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tsujigiwa
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gunduz
mesh_terms: D000564:Ameloblastoma / Q000473:pathology*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000473:pathology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D024141:Collagen Type IV / Q000032:analysis* / Q000145:classification; D004396:Coloring Agents; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000473:pathology; D003804:Dentin / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006801:Humans; D008339:Mandibular Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D014083:Tooth Germ / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D024141:Collagen Type IV; D004396:Coloring Agents