Ghost cell characterization in calcifying odontogenic cysts and dentinogenic ghost cell tumors: An immunohistochemical study.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

The aim of our study was to ascertain the true nature of ghost cells (GCs) by immunolocalization of cytokeratin (CK) 6, CK19, and amelogenin in calcifying odontogenic cysts (COCs) and dentinogenic ghost cell tumors (DGCTs) in an attempt to determine the nature of this unique cell.

METHODS:

A total of thirteen cases (six COCs and seven DGCTs) were examined immunohistochemically, in order to compare immunoreactivity for CK6, CK19, and amelogenin in odontogenic GCs.

RESULTS:

Positive expression of amelogenin (92.3%) and CK6 (77%) was chiefly found in GCs. CK19 expression was observed in the cytoplasm of odontogenic epithelial cells of the lining epithelium. GCs were devoid of CK19 expression and were positive only on the cytoplasmic periphery.

CONCLUSION:

In the current study, GCs showed accumulation of amelogenin and hard keratins in their cytoplasm during pathological transformation.

• Authors: Aadithya B Urs, Kiran Jot, Manoj Kumar
• Journal: Journal of oral biosciences (J Oral Biosci) Vol. 62 Issue 4 Pg. 336-341 (12 2020) ISSN: 1880-3865 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 33059062 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2020 Japanese Association for Oral Biology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Amelogenin
• Keratins

Topics

• Amelogenin
• Humans
• Immunohistochemistry
• Keratins
• Odontogenic Cyst, Calcifying
• Odontogenic Tumors