| Autor: |
França GM; Postgraduate program of Dental science, Concentration area in Stomatology and Oral Pathology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil., Carlan LM; Postgraduate program of Dental science, Concentration area in Stomatology and Oral Pathology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil., Pires HF; Postgraduate program of Dental science, Concentration area in Stomatology and Oral Pathology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil., Oliveira CN; Postgraduate program of Dental science, Concentration area in Stomatology and Oral Pathology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil., Santos PPA; Postgraduate program of Dental science, Concentration area in Stomatology and Oral Pathology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil., Galvão HC; Postgraduate program of Dental science, Concentration area in Stomatology and Oral Pathology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. |
| Abstrakt: |
Tooth development depends on a series of reciprocal signaling interactions between the oral epithelium and ectomesenchyme. This study aimed to investigate the role of CK14, a protein involved in Wnt-1/β-catenin signaling, in odontogenesis and the development of odontomas. This cross-sectional, retrospective, immunohistochemical study analyzed 30 compound odontomas, 30 complex odontomas, and 17 tooth germs. Higher immunoexpression of CK14 was observed in odontogenic epithelial cells of tooth germs (p < 0.001) and odontogenic epithelial cells of odontomas (p < 0.001). There was higher immunoexpression of Wnt-1 and β-catenin proteins in epithelial cells of tooth germs (p = 0.002 and p < 0.001, respectively), as well as in the ectomesenchyme of odontomas (p = 0.003 and p < 0.001, respectively). β-Catenin was moderately and significantly correlated with CK14 in the membrane of reduced enamel epithelial cells in odontomas (p = 0.007). Higher immunoexpression of CK14 was observed in the odontogenic epithelium during the bud and cap stages and lower immunoexpression in the internal enamel epithelium during the bell stage. In odontomas, lower expression of Wnt-1/β-catenin and higher immunoexpression of CK14 were found in odontogenic epithelial cells, especially adjacent to the mineralized material resembling the tooth formed in these lesions. |
