Post-Graduate Program, Oral Pathology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil.
Arch Oral Biol. 2011 Nov;56(11):1256-63. doi: 10.1016/j.archoralbio.2011.05.009. Epub 2011 Jun 16.
Receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB (RANK), RANK ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) are members of the superfamily of ligands and receptors of tumour necrosis factor family involved in bone metabolism. The formation, differentiation and activity of osteoclasts are regulated by these proteins. To clarify the roles of osteoclast regulatory factors in cystic expansion of odontogenic cysts, expression of these proteins were analysed in radicular and dentigerous cysts.
The immunohistochemistry expression of these biomarkers were evaluated and measured in lining epithelium and fibrous capsule of the radicular (n=20) and dentigerous cysts (n=20).
A similar expression in lining epithelium was observed in the lesions. The fibrous capsule of dentigerous cyst showed a higher content of RANK-positive and RANKL-positive cells than fibrous capsule of radicular cyst. In the lining epithelium the RANKL/OPG ratio showed higher numbers of OPG-positive than RANKL-positive cells, whereas fibrous capsule of the cysts had a tendency to present a similar expression (OPG=RANKL).
Ours findings indicate the presence of RANK, RANKL and OPG in cysts. Moreover, increased expression of OPG compared to RANKL in the lining epithelium could contribute to the differential bone resorption activity in theses lesions.
核因子-κB 受体激活剂（RANK）、RANK 配体（RANKL）和护骨素（OPG）是肿瘤坏死因子家族配体和受体超家族的成员，参与骨代谢。这些蛋白调节破骨细胞的形成、分化和活性。为了阐明破骨细胞调节因子在牙源性囊肿囊性扩张中的作用，分析了这些蛋白在根型和含牙囊肿中的表达。
评估并测量了这些生物标志物在根型（n=20）和含牙囊肿（n=20）的衬里上皮和纤维囊中的免疫组织化学表达。
观察到病变衬里上皮有相似的表达。与根型囊肿纤维囊相比，含牙囊肿纤维囊的 RANK 阳性和 RANKL 阳性细胞含量较高。在衬里上皮中，RANKL/OPG 比值显示 OPG 阳性细胞数多于 RANKL 阳性细胞数，而囊肿的纤维囊则表现出相似的表达趋势（OPG=RANKL）。
我们的研究结果表明囊肿中存在 RANK、RANKL 和 OPG。此外，衬里上皮中 OPG 的表达较 RANKL 增加，可能有助于这些病变中不同的骨吸收活性。
