title: Immunoexpression of α2-integrin and Hsp47 in hereditary gingival  fibromatosis and gingival fibromatosis-associated dental abnormalities.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the present study was to investigate the expression of the α2-integrin subunit and heat shock protein 47 (Hsp47) in two families with isolated gingival fibromatosis (GF) form and one family with GF associated with dental abnormalities and normal gingival (NG).
  
  
  METHODS
  Immunohistochemistry was performed with antibodies against α2-integrin and Hsp47 in specimens from two unrelated families with hereditary gingival fibromatosis (Families 1 and 2) and from one family with a gingival fibromatosis-associated dental abnormality (Family 3); NG samples were used for comparison. The results were analysed statistically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Immunoreactivity for α2-integrin and Hsp47 was observed in the nucleus of epithelial cells of both the basal and suprabasal layer and a more discreet signal was noted in connective tissue in all study samples. Hsp47 showed higher immunoreactivity in Family 2 compared with the other families (p ≤ 0.05). Despite the markup α2-integrin was higher in Family 3 there was no statistically significant difference between the families studied (p ≥ 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results confirmed the heterogeneity of GF, such that similar patterns of expression of the condition may show differences in the expression of proteins such as Hsp47. Although no difference in α2-integrin expression was observed between GF and NG groups, future studies are necessary to determine the exact role of this protein in the various forms of GF and whether it contributes to GF pathogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Dental School, State University of Montes Claros, Unimontes, Montes Claros, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. joaorobsonjunior@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: João-Robson
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Vieira-Júnior
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: de Oliveira-Santos
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Della-Coletta
authors.forename: Daiane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cristianismo-Costa
authors.forename: Lívia-Maris-R
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Paranaíba
authors.forename: Hercílio
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Martelli-Júnior
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005351:Fibromatosis, Gingival / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D050958:HSP47 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D039421:Integrin alpha2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D014071:Tooth Abnormalities / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D050958:HSP47 Heat-Shock Proteins; D039421:Integrin alpha2