ABSTRACT

In tumor biology, hypoxia triggers signaling pathways that induce transcription of genes related to angiogenesis, metastasis, glucose metabolism and apoptosis. We investigated the expression of hypoxia related proteins, galectin-3 (Gal-3) and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), in conventional (CA) and unicystic ameloblastomas (UA). We applied immunohistochemistry for Gal-3 and HIF-1α to 72 cases of ameloblastoma: 59 cases of CA and 13 cases of unicystic UA. Immunoexpression was evaluated semiquantitatively. Gal-3 expression was observed in 40% of the cases: 23/59 CA and 6/13 UA. HIF-1α immunostaining was observed in 55% of cases: 36/59 CA and 4/13 UA. 19 CA and 2 UA were positive for both markers. Immunostaining was evident in the center of the tumor islands, which exhibited squamous metaplasia or cystic degeneration. The expression of Gal-3 and HIF-1α in ameloblastomas could be interpreted as a response to hypoxic stress. Co-expression of both proteins in CA may suggest a potential interaction that participates in the biological behavior of this ameloblastoma variant.

摘要

在肿瘤生物学中，缺氧触发信号通路，诱导与血管生成、转移、葡萄糖代谢和细胞凋亡相关的基因转录。我们研究了缺氧相关蛋白半乳糖凝集素-3 (Gal-3) 和缺氧诱导因子-1α (HIF-1α) 在常规 (CA) 和单囊性成釉细胞瘤 (UA) 中的表达。我们将 Gal-3 和 HIF-1α 的免疫组织化学应用于 72 例成釉细胞瘤：59 例 CA 和 13 例单囊性 UA。半定量评估免疫表达。在 40% 的病例中观察到 Gal-3 表达：23/59 CA 和 6/13 UA。在 55% 的病例中观察到 HIF-1α 免疫染色：36/59 CA 和 4/13 UA。19 个 CA 和 2 个 UA 对两种标志物均呈阳性。肿瘤岛中心免疫染色明显，表现为鳞状上皮化生或囊性变。Gal-3 和 HIF-1α 在成釉细胞瘤中的表达可以解释为对缺氧应激的反应。这两种蛋白质在 CA 中的共表达可能表明潜在的相互作用参与了这种成釉细胞瘤变体的生物学行为。