Immunoexpression of NF-ĸB and their inhibitory subunits IĸBα and IĸBβ in giant cell lesions of the jaws: implications for their clinical behavior.

BACKGROUND

The unpredictable behavior of giant cell lesions (GCLs) of the jaws parallels its controversial histogenesis. This study evaluated a possible association between the immunohistochemical expression of NF-ĸB, the inhibitory subunits IĸBα/IĸBβ, and clinicopathological variables with the behavior of central and peripheral GCLs of the jaws.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Paraffin-embedded samples of GCLs of the jaws (n = 68) were prepared for histological/immunohistochemical assessment. Demographic and clinicopathological parameters were assessed to determine the behavior of the lesions. A staining-intensity-distribution (SID) score was used to assess the immunomarkers reactivity. The association between significant candidate immunohistochemical predictor variables regarding clinical behavior was analyzed individually and adjusted for confounding using a binary logistic regression model.

RESULTS

While univariate analysis revealed a positive association of NF-ĸB SID score, NF-ĸB nuclear expression, IĸBα SID score, and NF-ĸB to inhibitors average ratio with the aggressive status of GCLs, after bivariate logistic regression analysis, only NF-ĸB nuclear expression, IĸBα SID score, and NF-ĸB to inhibitors average ratio remained as robust predictors of aggressiveness. Confounding and interaction effects regarding clinicopathological candidate predictor variables were also noted.

CONCLUSION

It looks that clinical behavior of GCLs of the jaws may be strong/independently linked to the increased nuclear expression of NF-ĸB, higher NF-ĸB to inhibitors average ratio, and decreased IĸBα SID score. Notwithstanding, there are simultaneously synergistic and opposing interactive effects with respect to age stratum, growth rate, multinucleated giant cells count, and mononuclear stromal cells density in the susceptible host that may increase the tissue destruction observed in aggressive GCLs.