Immunohistochemical analysis of osteoclastic and osteoblastic activity in ossifying fibroma and juvenile ossifying fibroma: A comparative study

• Published in: Journal of medicine and life Vol. 16; no. 9; pp. 1369 - 1374
• Main Authors: Tater, Jawaher, Diajil, Ameena Ryhan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Romania Carol Daila University Foundation 01-09-2023; Carol Davila University Press
• Subjects: Biomarkers; Bone Neoplasms; Cementoma - pathology; Fibroblasts; Fibroma, Ossifying - pathology; Humans; Ligands; Original; Osteoclasts; Osteoclasts - pathology; Osteoprotegerin; Pathogenesis; Polyclonal antibodies; Reagents; Statistical analysis; Tumors; OPG: Osteoprotegerin; RANKL: RANK Ligand; RANK ligand; juvenile ossifying fibroma; RANK: Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-kB; cemento-ossifying fibroma; PsJOF: Psammomatoid Juvenile Ossifying Fibroma; RANK; JOF: Juvenile Ossifying Fibroma; TrJOF: Trabecular Juvenile Ossifying Fibroma; COF: Cemento-Ossifying Fibroma; osteoprotegerin
• ISSN: 1844-3117; 1844-122X; 1844-3117
• DOI: 10.25122/jml-2023-0126

Cemento-ossifying fibroma (COF) and juvenile ossifying fibroma (JOF) have been considered distinct entities within the category of fibro-osseous lesions. This study aimed to assess osteoblast and osteoclast activity in COF and JOF by investigating bone resorption markers, specifically receptor activator of nuclear factor-kB (RANK), RANK ligand (RANKL), and its inhibitor osteoprotegerin (OPG). A comparative analysis of these markers was performed on all lesions. Immunohistochemistry was employed to evaluate and quantify the expression of these biomarkers in a sample of 20 cases of cemento-ossifying fibroma (COF), 15 cases of psammomatoid juvenile ossifying fibroma (PsJOF), and 10 cases of trabecular juvenile ossifying fibroma (TrJOF). The expression of osteoprotegerin was significantly higher in cemento-ossifying fibroma (33.9±13.0) compared to trabecular juvenile ossifying fibroma (27.3±9.2) and psammatoid ossifying fibroma (25.2±14.9), with the COF showing the highest expression followed by the latter two (p=0.037). There was a higher percentage (80%) of stromal fibroblast cells that showed positive expression of RANKL in cemento-ossifying fibroma (COF) compared to psammomatoid juvenile ossifying fibroma (PsJOF) (33.3%) and trabecular juvenile ossifying fibroma (TrJOF) (30.0%) when considering a positive expression score of 3 (p=0.024). Cemento-ossifying fibroma demonstrated the highest expression of osteoprotegerin and RANKL-positive stromal fibroblast cells, followed by psammomatoid juvenile ossifying fibroma and trabecular juvenile ossifying fibroma. These findings provide valuable insights into the pathogenesis of these lesions.