Metallothionein in the radicular, dentigerous, orthokeratinized odontogenic cysts and in keratocystic odontogenic tumor.
BACKGROUND
Metallothionein (MT) is a protein correlated with cellular differentiation and proliferation, as well as with the inhibition of apoptosis. The aims were to report and to compare the MT expression in odontogenic cysts and keratocystic odontogenic tumor (KOT); to correlate the MT with cellular proliferation; and to evaluate the influence of the inflammation in MT.


METHODS
Nine cases of radicular cyst (RC), nine dentigerous cyst (DC), four orthokeratinized odontogenic cyst (OOC), and eight KOT were submitted to immunohistochemistry using anti-MT and anti-Ki-67. Indexes of MT (IMT) and Ki-67 (IK) were obtained. Lesions were grouped according to inflammation: mild-to-moderate (group A) and intense (group B).


RESULTS
IMT proved to be highest in RC (91%), followed by DC (89%), KOT (78%), and OOC (63%). IMT was inversely correlated with IK in KOT, and OCC, but was positively correlated with RC and DC. No differences in IMT and in IK could be observed between groups A and B.


CONCLUSIONS
The higher IMT found in RC and DC compared to OCC and KOT, as well as the differences between the last ones, is possibly correlated with their different histopathological features and clinical behavior. In RC and DC, MT may play a role in cellular proliferation. However, it seems that MT is either less or is not related to proliferation in OOC and in KOT. Moreover, inflammation does not seem to alter IMT and IK.
Department of Stomatology, School of Dentistry, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil. alinecristinabatista@yahoo.com.br
Aline Cristina Batista Rodrigues
AC
Johann
Patrícia Carlos
PC
Caldeira
Marcelo Vidigal
MV
Caliari
Mauro Henrique Nogueira Guimarães
MH
de Abreu
Maria Cássia Ferreira
MC
Aguiar
Ricardo Alves
RA
Mesquita
D017209:Apoptosis; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000473:pathology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000648:ultrastructure; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003803:Dentigerous Cyst / Q000473:pathology*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007249:Inflammation; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000032:analysis*; D009807:Odontogenic Cysts / Q000473:pathology*; D009808:Odontogenic Tumors / Q000473:pathology*; D011842:Radicular Cyst / Q000473:pathology*
D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D008668:Metallothionein