Immunohistochemical expression of pericytes and myofibroblasts in the extracellular matrix of oral actinic cheilitis and squamous cell carcinoma: a comparative study

• Published in: Revista odonto ciência Vol. 32; no. 1; p. 28
• Main Authors: Wanderley, Flávia Godinho, Nunes, Carlla Silva, Ferreira, Maira Sá, Gonzalez, Ana Cristina, Reis, Silvia Regina Almeida, Medrado, Alena Ribeiro Alves Peixoto
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Porto Alegre EDIPUCRS 2017
• Subjects: Actin; Angiogenesis; Antibodies; Antigens; Blood vessels; Cancer; Capillaries; Comparative analysis; Dysplasia; Education; Extracellular matrix; Histomorphometry; Laboratories; Metastasis; Monoclonal antibodies; Mucosa; Neuronal-glial interactions; Pathology; Pericytes; Proteins; Radiation; Smooth muscle; Squamous cell carcinoma; Statistical analysis; Tumors
• ISSN: 0102-9460; 1980-6523
• DOI: 10.15448/1980-6523.2017.1.23344

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study is to conduct a comparative analysis of oral actinic cheilitis and squamous cell carcinomas by immunohistochemical analysis.METHODS: This cross-sectional study utilizes a convenience sample obtained from the archives of an oral pathology laboratory from a higher education institution. Tissue sections from patients diagnosed with actinic cheilitis and carcinoma were immunohistochemically analyzed using monoclonal antibodies specific for smooth muscle alpha actin (SMA) and neuron-glial antigen 2 (NG2). Individual cells that stained positive for these proteins were counted in specific fields by means of histomorphometry.RESULTS: Subsequent statistical analysis revealed a higher number of NG2-positive when compared with SMA-positive cells in both lesion types (p = 0.005) and these cells were located adjacent to blood vessels. The differences between normal oral mucosa, severe dysplasia, and carcinoma specimens were statistically significant (p = 0.009; p = 0.006).CONCLUSION: These data strongly suggest that increased expression of NG2- and SMA-positive cells is associated with formation of blood capillaries, highlighting the importance of angiogenesis in tumor progression.