title: Differential expression of apoptosis-related proteins in various cellular components of ameloblastomas.
abstract: To evaluate the expression patterns of apoptosis-related proteins, including Fas, Fas-ligand (FasL), caspase-3 and Bcl-2, in various cellular components of ameloblastomas, 39 cases of ameloblastoma were examined using immunohistochemistry. The staining intensity of the antigens in the 4 types of tumour cellular component, peripheral basal cells of tumour nests, central stellate reticulum-like cells, and foci of squamous and granular cells, was scored using a semi-quantitative scale, and comparisons were made by statistical analysis. Expression of Fas, FasL and caspase-3 was detected in the majority of cases, with a similar pattern of strong staining in the foci of squamous metaplasia and granular cells usually situated in the central area of tumour islands. In contrast, expression of Bcl-2 was predominantly seen in the peripheral basal cell layer. There were significant differences in the staining intensity of Fas, caspase-3 and Bcl-2 among the 4 types of tumour cell. The differential expression of apoptosis-related proteins in various cellular components of ameloblastomas, with pro-apoptotic proteins, Fas, FasL and caspase-3 being closely associated with squamous metaplasia and granular transformation of the tumour cells, suggests that Fas/FasL-induced apoptotic cell death may play a role in the disposal of terminally differentiated or degenerative tumour cells in ameloblastomas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Peking University, Beijing, PR China.
authors.forename: H-Y
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: S-F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: T-J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000564:Ameloblastoma / Q000737:chemistry*; D017209:Apoptosis; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases / Q000032:analysis*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007573:Jaw Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000032:analysis*; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000032:analysis*; D048069:Tumor Necrosis Factors / Q000032:analysis*; D019014:fas Receptor
chemical_list: C481505:BCL2L15 protein, human; C491901:FAS protein, human; C505661:FASLG protein, human; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D048069:Tumor Necrosis Factors; D019014:fas Receptor; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases