Odontogenic cysts : demographic profile in a Brazilian population over a 38-year period

Objective: To determine the distribution of odontogenic cysts diagnosed histologically over a period of 38 years in a Brazilian population according to age, gender and site affected and to compare these data with previously reported studies from other countries. Study design: A total of 1019 cases of odontogenic cysts diagnosed between 1970 and 2007 were studied. Clinical features obtained from the patient records and microscope slides were reviewed according to the 1992 World Health Organization classification. Results: The mean age was 31.0 years, and there was a predominance of females. The most frequent odontogenic cysts were radicular cysts (61.4%), followed by dentigerous cysts (20.1%) and odontogenic keratocysts (6.4%). Radicular cysts were more frequent in females (62.0%), and the maxillary teeth were the site most commonly involved (63.05%). The peak incidence of dentigerous cysts occurred in the second decade of life, with the posterior region of the mandible being the site most affected (46.3%), followed by the anterior region of the maxilla (27.8%). Odontogenic keratocysts showed a peak incidence between the third and fourth decades of life and predominance among females. The posterior region of the mandible was the site most frequently affected (65.6%). Conclusion: The present results showed a similar frequency of odontogenic cysts in this Brazilian population and other populations around the world, with inflammatory cysts being identified as the most frequent odontogenic cyst. Radicular cysts, dentigerous cysts, and odontogenic keratocysts are the most common cystic lesions, accounting for 87.9% of all odontogenic cysts

Modulation of cell proliferation, survival and gene expression by RAGE and TLR signaling in cells of the innate and adaptive immune response: role of p38 MAPK and NF-KB

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate a possible synergism between AGE-RAGE and TLR4 signaling and the role of p38 MAPK and NF-kB signaling pathways on the modulation of the expression of inflammatory cytokines and proliferation of cells from the innate and adaptive immune response. Material and Methods: T lymphocyte (JM) and monocyte (U937) cell lines were stimulated with LPS and AGE-BSA independently and associated, both in the presence and absence of p38 MAPK and NF-kB inhibitors. Proliferation was assessed by direct counting and viability was assessed by a biochemical assay of mitochondrial function. Cytokine gene expression for RAGe, CCL3, CCR5, IL-6 and TNF-α was studied by RT-PCR and RT-qPCR. Results: RAGE mRNA expression was detected in both cell lines. LPS and AGE-BSA did not influence cell proliferation and viability of either cell line up to 72 hours. LPS and LPS associated with AGE induced expression of IL-6 and TNF-α in monocytes and T cells, respectively. Conclusions: There is no synergistic effect between RAGE and TLR signaling on the expression of IL-6, TNF-α , RAGE, CCR5 and CCL3 by monocytes and lymphocytes. Activation of RAGE associated or not with TLR signaling also had no effect on cell proliferation and survival of these cell types

Modulação da imunidade adaptativa por produtos solúveis de células de carcinoma espinoceular de cabeça e pescoço (HNSCC): um papel da galanina derivada do tumor?

Carcinoma espinocelular de cabeça e pescoço (HNSCC, squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck) é uma neoplasia caracterizada mais comumente por invasão local/regional de prognóstico sombrio quando diagnosticada em estágios avançados e uma característica imunossupressão local ou sistêmica associada. A taxa de sobrevivência em casos avançados é inferior à de câncer de mama ou próstata, e seu tratamento usualmente causa morbidade severa. A resposta ao tratamento é altamente variável mesmo entre pacientes em estágios iniciais da doença e apesar do tratamento implementado seguir o padrão de cuidados vigente. Assim, há grande necessidade de identificar biomarcadores que indiquem um fenótipo agressivo e possa proporcionar informações de utilidade no desenvolvimento de novas terapias específicas. Nossa hipótese foi de que produtos secretados por células de HNSCC ou o contato direto das mesmas com células imunológicas podem induzir uma modulação no sentido de causar a evasão do tumor da resposta imune. Observamos que a literatura mostra diversos trabalhos onde células tumorais exercem efeito imunossupressor em diversos tipos celulares da resposta imune. O estímulo de PBMC com meio condicionado (CM) de células de HNSCC induziu uma diminuição na proliferação, bem como modulou a polarização para fenótipos anti-inflamatórios e em co-cultura de HNSCC e PBMC, o tratamento prévio com CM das PBMC conferiu vantagem às células tumorais. Por último avaliamos um possível biomarcador, a galanina, na modulação da resposta imune. A ausência de galanina induziu melhores níveis de proliferação bem como mais polarização para fenótipos pro- inflamatórios. O aumento da expressão de galanina se mostrou um importante mecanismo de fuga das células tumorais da vigilâncias das células imunes, aumentando a proliferação, sobrevivência e migração das células HNSCC. Conclui- se que de fato o microambiente tumoral lança mão de mecanismos que causam imunossupressão, facilitando o crescimento e progressão do câncer.Squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck (HNSCC) is a cancer characterized commonly by local/regional invasion of poor prognosis when diagnosed in advanced stages and are associated with local or systemic immunosuppression. The survival rate for advanced cases is below the breast or prostate cancer, and treatment usually causes severe morbidity. The response to the treatment is highly variable among patients even in the early stages of the disease, despite the treatment implemented following the current standard care. Thus, there is great need to identify biomarkers that indicate an aggressive phenotype and can provide useful information on the development of new target therapies. Our hypothesis was that secreted products by HNSCC cells or direct contact with immune cells can induce a modulation in order to cause tumor evasion of the immune response. We note that the literature shows several studies where tumor cells exert immunosuppressive effect in different cell types of the immune response. The stimulation of PBMC with conditioned medium (CM) of HNSCC cells induced a decrease in proliferation, and modulates a polarization toward anti-inflammatory phenotypes and in co-culture of HNSCC and PBMC pre-treatead with CM caused advantage to tumor cells. Finally we evaluate a possible biomarker, galanin, in modulating the immune response. The absence of galanin induced higher levels of proliferation as well a more bias towards proinflammatory phenotypes. Increase of galanin expression showed a significant escape mechanism of tumor cells from the surveillance of the immune cells, enhancing the proliferation, migration and survival of HNSCC cells. In fact, the tumor microenvironment uses mechanisms that cause immunosuppression, facilitating the growth and progression of cancer.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP

Modulação da proliferação, morte celular e expressão gênica de mediadores inflamatórios pela ativação de RAGE e TLR4 em células da resposta imune inata e adaptativa: papel das vias de sinalização p38 MAPK e NF-kB

O diabetes está associado à maior susceptibilidade à infecções e sepsis, demonstrando uma influência desta condição sobre a resposta imune. A doença periodontal é um tipo de infecção crônica, modulada pela resposta imune que apresenta maior prevalência e severidade em pacientes diabéticos. Nosso objetivo foi avaliar um possível sinergismo entre os receptores RAGE e TLR4 na modulação da proliferação celular, atividade metabólica, apoptose e expressão de citocinas inflamatórias em células da resposta imune inata e adaptativa. Como objetivo secundário, avaliamos o papel das vias de sinalização p38 MAPK e NF-kB na expressão dos genes inflamatórios por estas células após estimulação de RAGE e TLR4. Linhagens de células humanas de linfócitos T (JM) e monócitos (U937) foram estimulados com LPS e AGE-BSA tanto de forma independente como associados. A estimulação foi realizada também na presença e na ausência de inibidores bioquímicos para p38 MAPK (SB203580) e NF-kB (Bay 11-7082). A proliferação celular foi determinada por ensaio de exclusão azul de trypan, a apoptose pela via intrínseca e atividade metabólica foi avaliada por um ensaio bioquímico da função 18 mitocondrial, a expressão de citocinas foi estudada por RT-PCR e RT-qPCR e a ativação das vias de sinalização de interesse pelos estímulos utilizados foi investigada através de Western blotting. LPS e AGE-BSA não influenciaram a proliferação e sobrevivência celular de monócitos e linfócitos T após 24, 48 e 72 h. LPS, isoladamente ou associado a AGE, induziu a expressão de IL-6 e TNF-α em monócitos e células T, respectivamente. A ativação de p38 MAPK...Diabetes is associated to increased susceptibility to infections and sepsis, indicating that this condition modulates the immune response. Periodontal disease is one type of chronic infection, which is modulated by the immune response and presents with increased prevalence and severity in diabetic patients. Our objective was to evaluate a possible synergism between RAGE and TLR4 signaling on the modulation of cell proliferation, metabolic activity, apoptosis and gene expression of inflammatory cytokines by cells of the innate and adaptive immune response. As a secondary objective, we assessed the role of p38 MAPK and NF-kB signaling pathways on the expression of the inflammatory genes by these cells after stimulation of RAGE and TLR4. Human cell lines of T lymphocytes (JM) and monocytes (U937) were stimulated with LPS and AGE-BSA both independently and associated. Stimulation was also performed in the presence and absence of biochemical inhibitors for p38 MAPK (SB203580) and NF-kB (Bay 11-7082). Cell proliferation was determined by trypan blue dye exclusion assay, apoptosis by the intrinsic pathway and metabolic activity were assessed by a biochemical assay of 21 the mitochondrial function, cytokine gene expression was studied by RT-PCR and RT-qPCR and the activation of the selected signaling pathways after RAGE and TLR4 activation was investigated by Western blotting. LPS and AGE-BSA did not influence cell proliferation and survival 24, 48 and 72 h after stimulation. LPS, alone or associated with AGE-BSA, induced expression of IL-6 and TNF- mRNA by monocytes and T cells, respectively. Activation of p38 MAPK, but not of NF-kB, was required for LPS and LPS/AGE-induced induction of IL-6 and TNF. RAGE mRNA expression was detected in both cell types. CCL3 mRNA expression levels were higher in monocytes upon... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES

Cancer-associated keratinocytes: new members of the microenvironment in head and neck cancer

The tumor microenvironment is a complex ecosystem of malignant and nonmalignant cells and extracellular proteins that work together to enhance tumor progression. We identified a mechanism in which adjacent nonmalignant epithelium enhances invasion of squamous cell carcinoma, thereby expanding the tumor microenvironment to include cancer-associated keratinocytes

Role of Osteogenic Growth Peptide (OGP) and OGP(10–14) in Bone Regeneration: A Review

Bone regeneration is a process that involves several molecular mediators, such as growth factors, which directly affect the proliferation, migration and differentiation of bone-related cells. The osteogenic growth peptide (OGP) and its C-terminal pentapeptide OGP(10–14) have been shown to stimulate the proliferation, differentiation, alkaline phosphatase activity and matrix mineralization of osteoblastic lineage cells. However, the exact molecular mechanisms that promote osteoblastic proliferation and differentiation are not completely understood. This review presents the main chemical characteristics of OGP and/or OGP(10–14), and also discusses the potential molecular pathways induced by these growth factors to promote proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts. Furthermore, since these peptides have been extensively investigated for bone tissue engineering, the clinical applications of these peptides for bone regeneration are discussed

Modulation of cell proliferation, survival and gene expression by RAGE and TLR signaling in cells of the innate and adaptive immune response: role of p38 MAPK and NF-KB

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate a possible synergism between AGE-RAGE and TLR4 signaling and the role of p38 MAPK and NF-kB signaling pathways on the modulation of the expression of inflammatory cytokines and proliferation of cells from the innate and adaptive immune response. Material and Methods: T lymphocyte (JM) and monocyte (U937) cell lines were stimulated with LPS and AGE-BSA independently and associated, both in the presence and absence of p38 MAPK and NF-kB inhibitors. Proliferation was assessed by direct counting and viability was assessed by a biochemical assay of mitochondrial function. Cytokine gene expression for RAGE, CCL3, CCR5, IL-6 and TNF-alpha was studied by RT-PCR and RT-qPCR. Results: RAGE mRNA expression was detected in both cell lines. LPS and AGE-BSA did not influence cell proliferation and viability of either cell line up to 72 hours. LPS and LPS associated with AGE induced expression of IL-6 and TNF-alpha in monocytes and T cells, respectively. Conclusions: There is no synergistic effect between RAGE and TLR signaling on the expression of IL-6, TNF-alpha, RAGE, CCR5 and CCL3 by monocytes and lymphocytes. Activation of RAGE associated or not with TLR signaling also had no effect on cell proliferation and survival of these cell types.Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP

Activin A triggers angiogenesis via regulation of VEGFA and its overexpression is associated with poor prognosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma

Poor prognosis associated with the dysregulated expression of activin A in a number of malignancies has been related to with numerous aspects of tumorigenesis, including angiogenesis. The present study investigated the prognostic significance of activin A immunoexpression in blood vessels and cancer cells in a number of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cases and appliedin vitrostrategies to determine the impact of activin A on angiogenesis. In a cohort of 95 patients with OSCC, immunoexpression of activin A in both blood vessels and tumor cells was quantified and the association with clinicopathological parameters and survival was analyzed. Effects of activin A on the tube formation, proliferation and migration of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were evaluated in gain-of-function (treatment with recombinant activin A) or loss-of-function [treatment with activin A-antagonist follistatin or by stable transfection with short hairpin RNA (shRNA) targeting activin A] conditions. Conditioned medium from an OSCC cell line with shRNA-mediated depletion of activin A was also tested. The profile of pro- and anti-angiogenic factors regulated by activin A was assessed with a human angiogenesis quantitative PCR (qPCR) array. Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) and its major isoforms were evaluated by reverse transcription-qPCR and ELISA. Activin A expression in blood vessels demonstrated an independent prognostic value in the multivariate analysis with a hazard ratio of 2.47 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.30-4.71; P=0.006) for disease-specific survival and 2.09 (95% CI, 1.07-4.08l: P=0.03) for disease-free survival. Activin A significantly increased tubular formation of HUVECs concomitantly with an increase in proliferation. This effect was validated by reduced proliferation and tubular formation of HUVECs following inhibition of activin A by follistatin or shRNA, as well as by treatment of HUVECs with conditioned medium from activin A-depleted OSCC cells. Activin A-knockdown increased the migration of HUVECs. In addition, activin A stimulated the phosphorylation of SMAD2/3 and the expression and production of total VEGFA, significantly enhancing the expression of its pro-angiogenic isoform 121. The present fndings suggest that activin A is a predictor of the prognosis of patients with OSCC, and provide evidence that activin A, in an autocrine and paracrine manner, may contribute to OSCC angiogenesis through differential expression of the isoform 121 of VEGFA.Peer reviewe

Use of a Non-Crosslinked Collagen Membrane During Guided Bone Regeneration Does Not Interfere With the Bone Regenerative Capacity of the Periosteum

PURPOSE: To assess whether the use of a non-crosslinked porcine collagen type I and III bi-layered membrane inter-positioned between the periosteum and a bone defect would interfere with the bone regenerative capacity of the periosteum. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty rats, each with 1 critical-size calvarial defect (CSD; diameter, 5 mm) in the parietal bone, were randomly allocated to 1 of 3 equal-size groups after CSD creation: 1) the periosteum was excised and the flap was repositioned without interposition of a membrane (no-periosteum [NP] group); 2) the flap including the periosteum was repositioned (periosteum [P] group); and 3) a non-crosslinked collagen membrane was inter-positioned between the flap, including the periosteum, and the bone defect (membrane [M] group). Micro-computed tomography, qualitative histology, immunohistochemistry, and reverse transcription real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction were performed at 3, 7, 15, and 30 days postoperatively. RESULTS: A markedly increased radiographic residual defect length was observed in the NP group compared with the P group at 30 days. The NP group also presented a smaller radiographic bone fill area than the P group at 15 and 30 days and then the M group at 30 days. The P and M groups exhibited considerably greater expression of bone morphogenetic protein-2 and osteocalcin than the NP group at 7 days; expression of transforming growth factor-beta1 was considerably greater in the NP group at 15 days. Further, the P group presented considerably higher gene expression levels of Runx2 and Jagged1 at 7 days and of alkaline phosphatase at 3 and 15 days compared with the M and NP groups. CONCLUSION: Interposition of this specific non-crosslinked collagen membrane between the periosteum and the bone defect during guided bone regeneration interferes only slightly, if at all, with the bone regenerative capacity of the periosteum