title: Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Associated Chaperones, Bip/GRP78 and Calnexin are Overexpressed in Keratocystic Odontogenic Tumours.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Odontogenic keratocysts (OKCs) are developmental cysts that have been reclassified according World Health Organization (WHO), to keratocystic odontogenic tumours (KCOTs), a term that better reflects their neoplastic nature. The aim of present study is to evaluate the induction of stress of the endoplasmic reticulum and execution of the resulting unfolded protein response in keratinocystic odontogenic tumours.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed by immunohistochemistry the expression of the chaperones BiP/GRP78 and calnexin in 24 cases of KCOTs. As controls, we have used 9 cases of periapical or radicular cysts (PACs) and 5 cases of Fibromas (FBs). The PACs and the FBs were included in the analysis, as PACs are the most common type of inflammatory odontogenic cysts of and FBs, as lesions of the connective tissue with unaffected epithelium.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Analysis revealed a strong association between both BiP/GRP78 and calnexin expression and KCOTs: 18 out of 24 (75%) KCOTs expressed BiP/GRP78 as opposed to 1 out of 9 (13%) PACs, and none of 5 FBs evaluated (P < 0.001, x(2)-test). Calnexin was expressed in 11 out of 24 KCOTs (46%) but only one out of 9 (13%) PACs, and none of the 5 FBs analyzed (P < 0.001, x(2)-test).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Study results imply that induction of endoplasmic reticulum stress maybe of diagnostic value in keratocystic odontogenic tumours characterization. In addition to recent findings suggesting that endoplasmic reticulum stress plays a causative role in keratinization of epithelia, pharmacological interference with the execution of the unfolded protein response should be considered for the management of keratocystic odontogenic tumours.
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Dental School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Greece.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pavli
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Greece.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Farmaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine and Pathology, Dental School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Greece.
authors.forename: Stavroula
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Merkourea
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Sciences, Dental School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Greece.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vastardis
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Greece.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sklavounou
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Dental School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Greece.
authors.forename: Fotios
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tzerbos
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Sciences, Dental School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Greece.
authors.forename: Ioulia
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Chatzistamou
keywords: GRP78 protein; dental tissue neoplasms; endoplasmic reticulum stress; molecular chaperone; phosphoprotein pp90.