title: Immunohistochemical detection of receptor activator nuclear κB ligand and osteoprotegerin in odontogenic cysts and tumors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to compare the immunohistochemical detection of receptor activator nuclear κB ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) in radicular cysts (RCs), dentigerous cysts (DCs), solid ameloblastomas (SAs), and keratocystic odontogenic tumors (KOTs).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 20 RCs, 20 DCs, 20 KOTs, 14 dental follicles (DFs), and 18 SAs were evaluated by immunohistochemistry using anti-RANKL and anti-OPG antibodies. The analysis was quantitative, and the number of positive cells was counted in 10 microscopic high-power fields (400×).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The DFs, KOTs, and SAs showed higher expression of RANKL than did the RCs and DCs in the epithelium (P < .05). The epithelial expression of OPG was higher in the DFs, KOTs, RCs, and DCs than in the SAs (P < .05). The ratio of OPG less than RANKL was more frequent in SAs and OPG greater than RANKL in DCs (P < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results have shown differences in RANKL and OPG detection in the odontogenic cysts and tumors studied. The higher RANKL and lower OPG detection in SA could play a role in bone resorption, compatible with the tumor's biologic behavior.
authors.affiliation: Doctoral student, Postgraduate Program, Department of Oral Pathology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Felipe Rodrigues
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: de Matos
authors.forename: Maiara
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Moraes
authors.forename: Emília Beatriz
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: das Neves Silva
authors.forename: Hébel Cavalcanti
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Galvão
authors.forename: Roseana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: de Almeida Freitas
mesh_terms: D000564:Ameloblastoma / Q000473:pathology; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D002452:Cell Count; D004396:Coloring Agents; D003795:Dental Sac / Q000473:pathology; D003803:Dentigerous Cyst / Q000473:pathology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009807:Odontogenic Cysts / Q000473:pathology*; D009808:Odontogenic Tumors / Q000473:pathology*; D053244:Osteoprotegerin / Q000032:analysis*; D053245:RANK Ligand / Q000032:analysis*; D011842:Radicular Cyst / Q000473:pathology; D017154:Stromal Cells
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004396:Coloring Agents; D053244:Osteoprotegerin; D053245:RANK Ligand; C506030:TNFRSF11B protein, human; C505688:TNFSF11 protein, human