Transforming growth factor-alpha and oral fibroma: Immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization study.
OBJECTIVE
Transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) is usually expressed in cell lines derived from sarcomas. It is known as a mitogen for fibroblasts. The aim of this study was to determine whether there were any differences in the expression pattern of TGF-alpha between normal oral mucosa and oral fibroma.


METHODS
Fourteen pathologic specimens (6 males and 8 females; 37.2 +/- 23.2 years) and 10 normal oral mucosal specimens (5 females and 5 males; 43.8 +/- 17.7 years) were used for this study. Identification of TGF-alpha was sought by using immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization.


RESULTS
The samples from normal oral mucosa did not express TGF-alpha. One sample from oral fibroma did not express TGF-alpha (7.1%). Five samples from oral fibroma expressed TGF-alpha sparsely (35.7%). Eight samples showed diffuse expression of TGF-alpha (57.1%). The immunopositive reaction to TGF-alpha in oral fibroma was localized in the basal layer and the fibroblasts that resided beneath the epithelium. This pattern was also shown in the in situ hybridization study as well.


CONCLUSIONS
TGF-alpha is expressed in oral fibromas. It suggested that TGF-alpha might play a role in fibroblast proliferation in oral fibromas.
Rotaru
Horatiu
H
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
Choi
Je-Yong
JY
Hong
Sam-Pyo
SP
Lee
Yong-Chan
YC
Yun
Kyoung-In
KI
Kim
Seong-Gon
SG
D000328:Adult; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005350:Fibroma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012016:Reference Values; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha / Q000378:metabolism*
D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha