Expression of platelet-derived growth factor-AA and platelet-derived growth factor-alpha receptor in ameloblastomas.
BACKGROUND
Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-AA isoform and its receptor, PDGF-alpha receptor (PDGFRA) regulate tooth development and growth. We investigated the expression of both proteins in ameloblastomas, to contribute the understanding of the potential role of the PDGF/PDGFR system in this odontogenic neoplasm.


METHODS
Twenty-nine specimens of ameloblastoma were analyzed for PDGF-AA and PDGFRA expression using immunohistochemistry. The proliferation activity was investigated with the MIB-1 antibody. Additionally, capillary sequencing of genomic DNA was performed to search for mutations in therapeutically relevant exons 12 and 18 of the PDGFRA gene.


RESULTS
PDGF-AA and PDGFRA expression were detectable in all cases with the exception of one tumor. However, protein expression levels did neither correlate with each other nor with MIB-1 expression. Unicystic ameloblastomas did not differ from solid tumors with regard to PDGF-AA, PDGFRA, and MIB-1 expression. One tumor revealed a somatic mutation of exon 12 of the PDGFRA gene.


CONCLUSIONS
PDGF-AA and PDGFRA proteins are regularly expressed in variable levels in ameloblastomas, and somatic mutations of exon 12 and exon 18 of the PDGFRA gene are rare findings.
Sulzbacher
Irene
I
Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. irene.sulzbacher@meduniwien.ac.at
Wick
Nikolaus
N
Pichlhofer
Bettina
B
Mazal
Peter R
PR
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000564:Ameloblastoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007573:Jaw Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D020796:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; C440408:MIB-1 antibody; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; C075278:platelet-derived growth factor A; D020796:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha