Immunohistochemical Analysis of Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA) in Dental Follicles of Impacted Third Molars

Abstract

SUMMARY:This study investigated the immunodetection of PCNA in epithelial components of dental follicles associated with impacted third molars without radiographical and morphological signs of pathosis. A total of 105 specimens of dental follicles associated with impacted third molars with incomplete rhizogenesis (between Nolla's stage 6 and 9) were surgically removed from 56 patients. Epithelial cell proliferating was determined by using immunohistochemical labeling. Statistical analysis was performed using the Fisher exact test. Of the 105 dental follicles collected, 6 were PCNA-positive (≈ 6%). The specimens with squamous metaplasia and epithelial hyperplasia had higher rates of positivity for PCNA, as well as those with proliferative remnants of odontogenic epithelium. In conclusion, this study shows that dental follicles at this stage of development have low proliferative potential, but suggests that squamous metaplasia, hyperplasia of the epithelial lining and presence of proliferative odontogenic epithelial rests in the connective tissue may be early signs of developing lesions of odontogenic origin.

Comparison of Proliferative Activity of Epithelial Cells between the Follicles of Impacted Teeth

“…The proliferative potential of dental follicles surrounding the crown of unerupted/impacted teeth has not yet been investigated in detail. Earlier studies focused on the follicles of impacted mandibular third molars (Szelachowska et al;Piattelli et al;Adelsperger et al, 2000;da Silva Baumgart et al, 2007;Oliveira et al, 2011Oliveira et al, , 2012Özarslan et al, 2013) and their associated pathologies (Saraçoglu et al, 2005;Edamatsu et al, 2005;Cabbar et al, 2008;Güler et al, 2012). To the knowledge of the authors, there is no data on the proliferative capacity of follicles of impacted teeth other than mandibular third molars.…”

“…We were unable to statistically compare the metabolic activity of the single strand reduced enamel epithelium and the stratified variant as we had only two specimens with reduced enamel epithelium. Adelsperger et al, found that 5 of 8 specimens with squamous metaplasia demonstrated PCNA uptake, whereas none of 10 specimens with no squamous metaplasia were PCNA positive while de Oliveira et al (2011) demonstrated positivity for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in 3 out of 15 dental follicles with stratified squamous lining epithelium. The authors concluded that cellular proliferative activity might be active in dental follicles showing squamous metaplasia.…”

“…Of the 48 specimens with epithelium lining, only one specimen in each group had reduced enamel epithelium, the rest were composed of stratified squamous epithelium. Some authors considered any dental follicle with squamous epithelium spreading along its surface as pathologic and the first visible sign of cystic transformation of the dental follicle (Oliveira et al, 2011;Cabbar et al;Güler et al;. According to Kim & Ellis (1993), evaluation of the dental follicles based solely on histological findings may lead to incorrect interpretation and the clinical, radiographic, and microscopic features should be considered in concert in arriving at a final diagnosis.…”

Histopathologic evaluation of follicular tissues associated with impacted lower third molars

“…However, the justification for prophylactic removal of ILTMs is less certain and has been debated for many years. [5] Odontogenic cysts or odontogenic tumors may arise from the epithelial rests in the follicle tissue surrounding impacted tooth. The potential for this development is not known.…”

Immunohistochemical Analysis of Human Homologue of Drosophila Patched (PTCH) in Dental Follicles of Impacted Third Molars

“…The epithelial lining of the specimens were classified according to the type (absent, enamel reduced and stratified squamous) and cell activity (hyperplastic and inactive). The remaining epithelium in the connective tissue was classified as inactive or proliferative when present (de Oliveira et al, 2011).…”