Immunohistochemical detection of MT1-MMP, RECK, and EMMPRIN in ameloblastic tumors.
BACKGROUND
To evaluate the roles of matrix-degrading proteinase regulators in progression of odontogenic tumors, expression of membrane-bound matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) MT1-MMP, MMP inhibitor RECK and MMP inducer EMMPRIN was analyzed in ameloblastic tumors as well as in tooth germs.


METHODS
Tissue specimens of 11 tooth germs, 40 ameloblastomas, and five malignant ameloblastic tumors were examined immunohistochemically with the use of antibodies against MT1-MMP, RECK, and EMMPRIN.


RESULTS
Immunohistochemical reactivity for MT1-MMP, RECK and EMMPRIN was detected predominantly in odontogenic epithelial cells near the basement membrane in tooth germs and benign and malignant ameloblastic tumors. The level of immunoreactivity for MT1-MMP was slightly higher in benign and malignant ameloblastic tumors than in tooth germs. RECK expression was lower in ameloblastomas than in tooth germs. Follicular ameloblastomas showed significantly lower expression of RECK than plexiform ameloblastomas, and immunoreactivity for RECK in acanthomatous ameloblastomas was slightly lower than that in other cellular variants.


CONCLUSIONS
Expression of MT1-MMP, RECK and EMMPRIN in tooth germs and ameloblastic tumors suggests that these normal and neoplastic epithelial components control MMP-dependent extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation during tooth development and tumor progression via epithelial-mesenchymal interactions.
Kumamoto
H
H
Division of Oral Pathology, Department of Oral Medicine and Surgery, Tohoku University Graduate School of Dentistry, 4-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8575, Japan. kumamoto@mail.tains.tohoku.ac.jp
Ooya
K
K
D000564:Ameloblastoma / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000201:enzymology; D051926:Basigin / Q000032:analysis*; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007573:Jaw Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000201:enzymology; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000032:analysis*; D053504:Matrix Metalloproteinases, Membrane-Associated; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis*; D014083:Tooth Germ / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000201:enzymology
D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; C115460:RECK protein, human; D051926:Basigin; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases; D053504:Matrix Metalloproteinases, Membrane-Associated