Oct-4 and CD44 in epithelial stem cells like of benign odontogenic lesions

Abstract

Benign epithelial odontogenic lesions are great clinical importance entities that develop in the jaws from the tissues that form teeth. It has been shown that benign and malignant tumors are present in a large number of tumor stem cells, which has great implications in the development of these lesions. Oct-4 and CD44 have been demonstrated as important markers for tumoral stem cells. The aim of this study was investigate the presence of stem cell markers Oct-4 and CD44 in benign epithelial odontogenic lesions. Twenty odontogenic keratocysts (OKC), 20 ameloblastomas (AMB) of the solid/multicystic type and 20 adenomatoid odontogenic tumors (AOT) were retrospectively analyzed for immunohistochemical detection of Oct-4 and CD44 in their epithelial component. All cases were positive for the two markers, with the majority exhibiting a high expression. Analysis of the expression of Oct-4 revealed no statistically significant differences (p = 0.406) between the lesions studied. Regarding CD44, there was a significant difference between the cases of AMB and AOT in relation with OKC, with the latter presenting a greater labelling (p = 0.034). No statistically significant correlation between Oct-4 and CD44 was observed in the lesions. In our findings, the presence of stem cell-like phenotype at various sites of the epithelial component of the odontogenic lesions was identified, suggesting its possible participation in histogenesis and differentiation without, however, exerting influence on the aggressiveness of the lesions.

Expression of stem cell markers in stroma of odontogenic cysts and tumors

“…The expression of Oct4, known to play a critical role in the development and self‐renewal of embryonal stem cells and in the invasiveness and chemoresistance of certain cancers, 38 has been found to be negative in the present study. Previous works, in which Oct4 has been examined in the epithelial component of odontogenic lesions, reported equivocal expression, ranging from negative in AMB, DC, and OKC, 14,15 through scarcely positive in radicular cysts 14 and to definitely positive in AMB and OKC, 16,39 and in AOT and ameloblastic carcinoma 14 . In other types of tumors, it has been shown that stem cell markers, such as Nanog and SOX2, were differentially expressed in the epithelial and stromal components 4 and that the relative frequency of these cells was tissue‐related 40 .…”

Expression of keratin 15 in dentigerous cyst, odontogenic keratocyst and ameloblastoma

“…Further studies observed the stem cell indicators in both the stellate reticulum like cells and the peripheral basal cells of ABs (22,23). A recent study performed by Monroy et al (23), demonstrated a high expression of a tumor stem cell marker, namely Oct-4 in the suprabasal layers of OKC and in both stellate reticulum and peripheral columnar cells of AB, while the CD44, which is another stem cell marker used in the same study was highly expressed in all epithelium of OKC and AB (23).…”

Activation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Promotes New Bone Formation Within Dentigerous Cyst

“…A series of studies have shown that rodent incisors grow continuously throughout life owing to the epithelial progenitor cells in the cervical loop, an area where the inner and the outer enamel epithelium meet at the rim of the enamel organ at bell stage (12)(13)(14). Moreover, stem cell markers such as Oct-4, CD44 and K15 have been demonstrated in odontogenic lesions (15,16). Evidences above suggest the possibility that there are stem cells in the capsule of DC.…”