Giant cell granuloma of the jawbones--a proliferative vascular lesion? Immunohistochemical study with vascular endothelial growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the angiogenic activity in central giant cell granuloma (CGCG) by immunohistochemical stains for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). VEGF and bFGF immunoreactivity of the lesional mononuclear (MC) and giant (GC) cells was also investigated.


METHODS
The study consisted of 41 cases of CGCG. Vascularity was quantified by microvascular volume (MVV) as determined by point counting. In five cases of CGCG, regions at the surrounding border, which demonstrated reactive vascular-rich inflammatory areas, served as control. Immunoreactivity of the MC and GC was assessed as the percentage of VEGF- and bFGF-positive cells from the total number of the respective cell type.


RESULTS
Within CGCG lesions the extent of angiogenesis was low; MVV did not exceed 5% for either VEGF (88% of lesions) or bFGF (78% of lesions). The mean MVV of VEGF- and bFGF-positive blood vessels was 2.9% +/- 2.4% and 3.46% +/- 2.35%, respectively, significantly lower than in the control areas (27.5% +/- 7.3% and 28.08% +/- 5.5%, respectively) (P = 0.043). VEGF-positive and bFGF-positive MC and GC were found in nearly all lesions and in less than half of the lesions, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The low mean MVV of VEGF- and bFGF-positive blood vessels implies low angiogenic activity, which does not support the designation of CGCG as a true proliferative vascular lesion. MC and GC immunoreactivity for the angiogenic factors is assumed to play an important role in the osteoclastogenesis process, thus contributing to additional growth of the CGCG lesions.
Vered
M
M
Department of Oral Pathology and Oral Medicine, School of Dental Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Buchner
A
A
Dayan
D
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000032:analysis*; D006101:Granuloma, Giant Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007571:Jaw Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000473:pathology; D012737:Sex Factors; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000032:analysis*
D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C108111:fibroblast growth factor 13; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors