title: Immunohistochemical Detection of p75 Neurotrophin Receptor (p75-NTR) in Follicular and Plexiform Ameloblastoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ameloblastoma holds a unique position among benign tumours by its locally destructive and invasive nature. Recently improvised molecular techniques helped researchers to unravel the myth behind such biologic behaviour. Though interesting findings have been delivered, the rhythmic correlation regarding the exact mechanism still remains lacking. Neurotrophins and their receptor mediated pathways play a crucial role in survival, death and differentiation of many neuroectoderm derived cells. With this background, the study has been aimed to investigate the expression of p75-NTR (Neurotrophin Receptor) in follicular and plexiform ameloblastoma.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the immunohistochemical expression pattern of p75-NTR in ameloblastoma and to compare the immunohistochemical expression pattern of p75-NTR among the histological types of ameloblastoma, follicular and plexiform patterns.
  
  
  METHODS
  Total 22 ameloblastomas (12 follicular, 10 plexiform) were immuno-stained with anti-human p75-NTR mouse IgG monoclonal antibody and the pattern of staining is statistically analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only 11 (10 follicular, 1 plexiform) out of 22 ameloblastomas showed immuno-reactivity to p75-NTR. In ameloblastoma, only the peripheral pre-ameloblast like tall columnar cells showed reactivity whereas the stellate reticulum-like cells were immuno-negative. The staining pattern was membranous in the immuno-reactive cells. The results were studied with the downstream pathways from the literature and a possible mechanism has been proposed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The expression pattern of p75-NTR was found to be more in follicular ameloblastoma than plexiform.
authors.affiliation: Reader, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Vivekanandha Dental College for Women , Tamilnadu, India .
authors.forename: Yoithapprabhunath Thukanayakanpalayam
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Ragunathan
authors.affiliation: Professor and Head, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Rajah Muthiah Dental College and Hospital , Tamilnadu, India .
authors.forename: Nirmal Ramadas
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Madhavan
authors.affiliation: Professor and Head, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Sree Anjaneya Institute of Dental Sciences , Kerela, India .
authors.forename: Sunil Paramel
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Mohan
authors.affiliation: Senior Lecturer, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, K.S.R. Institute of Dental Science and Research , Tamilnadu, India .
authors.forename: Srichinthu Kenniyan
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Kumar
keywords: Ameloblastoma; Immunohistochemistry; Odontogenic tumor; Regulation; p75-Neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR)