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Immunohistochemical analysis of bcl‐2 family proteins in benign and malignant ameloblastomas
Author(s) -
Kumamoto Hiroyuki,
Ooya KiyoshiOoya
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
journal of oral pathology and medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.887
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1600-0714
pISSN - 0904-2512
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0714.1999.tb02051.x
Subject(s) - immunohistochemistry , pathology , ameloblastoma , medicine , adamantinoma , dentistry , maxilla
To study the possible roles of bel‐2 family proteins in oncogenesis and cytodifferentiation of odontogenic epithelium, the expression of bel‐2, bel‐x and bax proteins was examined immunohistochemically in tooth germs and various types of ameloblastoma. In ameloblastomas, bel‐2 and bel‐x proteins were expressed intensely in peripheral columnar cells and weakly in central polyhedral cells, while bax protein reactivity was low. In variants of ameloblastoma, no expression of these proteins was found in the keratinizing areas or granular cell clusters. Basal cell ameloblastomas showed intense reactivity for bel‐2 and bel‐x proteins, but slight or no reactivity for bax protein. These results indicate that in amel‐oblastomas the bel‐2 family proteins might function primarily as anti‐apoptotic factors, reflecting proliferative activity. Malignant ameloblastomas showed decreased reactivity for bcl‐2 protein and increased levels of bax protein as compared with benign ones.