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Relative expression of α-smooth muscle actin and matrix metalloproteinases-2 in ameloblastoma of a black African sub-population
Akinyele O Adisa1, Samuel E Udeabor2, Bukola F Adeyemi1, Kubesch Alica3, Patrick Booms3, Shahram Ghanaati3, Robert A Sader4
1 Department of Oral Pathology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
2 Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, College of Health Sciences, University of Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria; Department for Oral Cranio Maxillofacial and Facial Plastic Surgery, Medical Center of the Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main; REPAIR Laboratory Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
3 Department for Oral Cranio Maxillofacial and Facial Plastic Surgery, Medical Center of the Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany; REPAIR Laboratory Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
4 Department for Oral Cranio Maxillofacial and Facial Plastic Surgery, Medical Center of the Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Correspondence Address:
Shahram Ghanaati
Department for Oral Cranio.Maxillofacial and Facial Plastic Surgery, Medical Center of the Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/1596-3519.152075
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Background: Ameloblastoma although a benign odontogenic tumor, is locally invasive. The abundant presence of myofibroblasts (marked by α-smooth muscle actin [α-SMA]) in the stroma and expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) in the neoplastic or stromal cells have been linked with the tumor's ability for both local and distant spread. We aim to estimate the relative expression of α-SMA and MMP-2 in ameloblastoma from a black African subgroup to gauge their relative potential for enhancing local invasiveness and hence, their prospects as possible chemotherapeutic targets.
Materials and Methods: Twenty-five formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded blocks of ameloblastoma cases from Nigeria were prepared for antibody processing to α-SMA (Dako Monoclonal Mouse Anti-Human α-SMA antibody clone 1A4) and MMP-2 (Abcam Mouse Monoclonal Anti-MMP-2 antibody [CA-4001/CA719E3C] ab3158). The score for percentage positivity of the tumor cells and the score for staining intensities were then multiplied in order to generate an immunoreactive score.
Results: α-smooth muscle actin was only expressed in the fibrous connective tissues adjacent to the tumor islands while MMP-2 was expressed in the ameloblasts, stellate reticulum, and the connective tissues in varying proportions. All the variants analyzed expressed α-SMA mildly or moderately, except for the follicular variant that either did not express α-SMA or expressed it mildly. The highest number of strong immunoreactivity to MMP-2 in the ameloblast region was found in the plexiform variant.
Conclusion: Chemotherapeutic targeting of both molecules may, therefore, be a vital step in the control of local ameloblastoma invasiveness. |
