Amelogenin in odontogenic cysts and tumors: An immunohistochemical study.
BACKGROUND
Amelogenins are the major enamel proteins that play a major role in the biomineralization and structural organization of enamel. Aberrations of enamel-related proteins are thought to be involved in oncogenesis of odontogenic epithelium. The expression of amelogenin is possibly an indicator of differentiation of epithelial cells in the odontogenic lesions.


OBJECTIVE
The present study aimed to observe the expression of amelogenin immunohistochemically in various odontogenic lesions.


METHODS
Paraffin sections of 40 odontogenic lesions were stained immunohistochemically with amelogenin antibodies. The positivity, pattern and intensity of expression of the amelogenin antibody were assessed, graded and statistically compared between groups of odontogenic cysts and tumors.


RESULTS
Almost all the odontogenic lesions expressed amelogenin in the epithelial component with the exception of an ameloblastic carcinoma. Differing grades of intensity and pattern were seen between the cysts and tumors. Intensity of expression was uniformly prominent in all odontogenic lesions with hard tissue formation. Statistical analysis however did not indicate significant differences between the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The expression of amelogenin antibody is ubiquitous in odontogenic tissues and can be used as a definitive marker for identification of odontogenic epithelium.
Department of Oral Pathology, PM Nadegouda Dental College, Bagalkot, India.
Praveen
P
Anigol
Department of Oral Pathology, Dr. Syamala Reddy Dental College, Hospital and Research Centre, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
Venkatesh V
VV
Kamath
Department of Oral Pathology, Dr. Syamala Reddy Dental College, Hospital and Research Centre, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
Krishnanand
K
Satelur
Department of Oral Pathology, KLE Institute of Dental Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
Nagaraja
N
Anand
Department of Oral Pathology, Dr. Syamala Reddy Dental College, Hospital and Research Centre, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
Komali
K
Yerlagudda
Amelogenin; differentiation; immunohistochemistry; odontogenic cysts; odontogenic tumors