Estudo da imunoexpressão das galectinas -1, -3 e -7 em ceratocistos odontológicos isolados e associados à Síndrome de Gorlin

Abstract

Odontogenic keratocyst (OKC) is an odontogenic developmental cyst characterized by potentially aggressive behavior and the association, in some cases, with Gorlin syndrome. Studies have suggested that OKCs associated with Gorlin syndrome exhibit increased growth and infiltration capacity compared to isolated OKCs. In addition, studies have highlighted the participation of multifunctional proteins, named galectins, especially galectins-1, -3 and -7, in the development of inflammatory odontogenic cysts. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate the immunoexpression of galectin-1, -3 and -7 in isolated primary and recurrent OKC, and OKC associated with Gorlin syndrome. The sample consisted of 20 cases of isolated primary OKC, eight cases of isolated recurrent OKC and 20 cases of OKC associated with Gorlin syndrome. Galectin-1, -3 and -7 immunoexpression was evaluated in the epithelial component of the lesions, establishing the percentage of positive cells (nuclear and cytoplasmic/ membrane) and the predominance of immunoreactivity in the epithelial layers. The data obtained with the evaluation of galectin-1 expression were only submitted to descriptive statistical analysis. For galectin-3 and -7, comparisons between median percentages of immunopositivity (nuclear and cytoplasmic/ membrane) were performed using the non-parametric Mann-Whitney test. Possible correlations between the galectin-3 and -7 immunoexpressions were assessed using the Spearman correlation test. For all the tests used in this study, a significance level of 5% ( p < 0.05) was considered. In all groups evaluated, a higher frequency of negative cases was observed for galectin-1 and -3. The few cases of OKC immunopositive for these galectins exhibited low percentages of positivity, with no statistically significant differences between groups (p > 0.05). All cases of OKC exhibited galectin-7 expression, with relatively high percentages of positivity and predominance of parabasal/ superficial immunoreactivity. There were no statistically significant differences between OKC groups regarding nuclear and cytoplasmic/ membrane expression of galectin-7 (p > 0.05). In all OKC groups, positive correlations were observed between nuclear and cytoplasmic / membrane immunoexpression for both galectin-3 and galectin-7 (p < 0.05). The results of the present study suggest that the differences in the biological behavior of isolated OKCs and OKCs associated with Gorlin syndrome are not related to the immunoexpressions of galectin-1, -3 and -7. Galectin-7 may play important roles in the pathogenesis of OKCs. On the other hand, the findings of this research suggest a smaller participation of galectin-1 and -3 in the development of these lesions.