ABSTRACT
Abstract: The aim of this study was to analyze and compare the immunohistochemical expression of plasminogen activator system (PAS) proteins (uPA, uPAR, and PAI-1) in ameloblastomas (AMBs), odontogenic keratocysts (OKCs), and dental follicles (DFs) representing normal odontogenic tissue, as well as to investigate possible correlations between these proteins. Twenty AMBs, 20 OKCs, and 10 DFs were selected for immunohistochemical analysis. In each case, the immunoexpression of uPA, uPAR, and PAI-1 was evaluated semiquantitatively based on the percentage of positivity in odontogenic epithelial and connective tissue cells. The epithelial immunoexpression of uPA was significantly lower in AMBs when compared to OKCs (p = 0.001) and DFs (p = 0.029). Significantly higher epithelial immunostaining for uPAR was observed in AMBs when compared to OKCs (p < 0.001). There were no significant differences in the epithelial immunoexpression of PAI-1 between AMBs and OKCs (p = 1.000). The correlations found for the expression of the studied proteins were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). However, the epithelial and connective tissue expressions of uPAR have a strong positive and statistically significant correlation in AMBs. The present results suggest that uPA is involved in the pathogenesis of OKCs and that uPAR may participate in tumorigenesis in AMBs. The high percentage of PAI-1-positive cells suggests a possible role for this protein in the development of AMBs and OKCs. Furthermore, the studied proteins do not seem to act synergistically in AMBs, OKCs, and DFs.
ABSTRACT
Abstract Caliber persistent labial artery (CPLA) consists in a dilated portion of the main branch of the labial artery without loss of size. The aim of this study is to report a case of a patient diagnosed with CPLA in the upper lip, emphasizing unusual histopathological and immunohistochemical findings. A 67-year-old female patient with complaint of a pulsating upper lip lesion without painful symptomatology. Under a clinical diagnosis of CPLA, and considering that the patient was edentulous and used a total prosthesis, an excisional biopsy of the lesion was performed to avoid future traumas in the region and consequently possible exuberant local bleeding. At anatomopathological examination structures suggestive of lymphoid follicles and germinal centers were visualized. Immunohistochemistry showed positivity for CD20, CD68, desmin and CD34 and negativity for CD4. The patient did not have a history of allergies, cardiovascular, rheumatic or systemic diseases that could justified the findings. The case presents unusual histopathological structures, evidencing the necessity of more studies about this pathology so scarce in the literature.
Resumo Artéria labial de calibre persistente (ALCP) consiste em uma parte dilatada do ramo principal da artéria labial que penetra no tecido submucoso sem perda de calibre. O objetivo desse estudo é relatar um caso de uma paciente diagnosticada com ALCP em lábio superior, enfatizando os achados histopatológicos e imuno-histoquímicos incomuns. Paciente de 67 anos, sexo feminino, com queixa de lesão em lábio superior, pulsante, sem sintomatologia dolorosa. Diante do diagnóstico clínico de ALCP, e considerando que a paciente era edêntula e usuária de prótese total, foi realizada biópsia excisional para evitar futuros traumas na região e, consequentemente, sangramento local exuberante. Ao exame anatomopatológico foram visualizadas estruturas sugestivas de folículos linfoides e com formações sugestivas de centros germinativos. No exame imuno-histoquímico observou-se imunopositividade para CD20, CD68, desmina e CD34 e sem imunomarcação para CD4. A paciente relatou não possuir histórico de alergias, doenças cardiovasculares, reumáticas ou sistêmicas que justificassem os achados. O caso apresenta estruturas histopatológicas incomuns, corroborando a necessidade de mais estudos acerca dessa lesão tão pouco discutida na literatura.