The human gingiva, characterized by its outstanding scarless wound healing properties, is a unique tissue and a pivotal component of the periodontal apparatus, investing and surrounding the teeth in their sockets in the alveolar bone. In the last year's gingival mesenchymal stem/progenitor cells (GMSCs), with promising regenerative and immunomodulatory properties, have been isolated and characterized from the gingival lamina propria. These cells, in contrast to other mesenchymal stem/progenitor cell (MSC) sources, are abundant, readily accessible and easily obtainable through minimally invasive cell isolation techniques. This short communication summarizes the current scientific evidence on GMSCs.
Cancer is one of the most life threatening diseases afflicting mankind. Oral carcinogenesis is a multifactorial process involving numerous genetic events that alter normal functions of oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes. These changes lead to a cell phenotype with increased cell proliferation, with loss of cell cohesion, and infiltration of adjacent tissue thus causing distant metastasis. The fact that cancer patients might develop metastasis after years or even decades from diagnosis of the primary tumor makes the metastatic process even more complex and the disease more deadly. The promise of this article is to enhance the understanding on molecular mechanisms underlying metastasis and provide a better approach towards development of novel therapeutic treatment modalities.
Background:Ki-67 and p53 are markers expressed in actively proliferating cells, particularly in neoplasms.Objectives:(1) To study the proliferative potential of epithelia in Solitary Sporadic, Syndrome-associated and Recurrent Keratocystic odontogenic tumors (KCOTs) using Ki67 and p53 labeling indices (LI). (2) To derive a relationship if any between the expression of these proteins and the biologic behavior of Solitary Sporadic and Syndrome associated KCOTs.Study Design:Thirteen paraffin embedded blocks of KCOTs (Solitary Sporadic, n = 03; Recurrent, n = 03; Syndrome associated, n = 07) were stained immunohistochemically for Ki-67 and p53 and labeling indices were calculated.Statistical Analysis:Z test with predetermined alpha set at 0.05 was used for the comparison of Ki-67 positivity between the three groups and p53 positivity between the three groups.Results:Ki-67 labeling indices were: 30% in solitary sporadic; 26% in recurrent; and 32% in syndrome associated KCOTs. p53 labeling indices were: 19% in solitary sporadic; 23% in recurrent; and 21% in syndrome-associated KCOTs. There was no difference seen in the rate of proliferation in the epithelial linings between the three groups. However, in our cases where Ki-67 positivity was seen there was expression of p53. Though not statistically significant a trend was seen, reflecting the loss of balance between the proliferative potential and apoptotic activity.Conclusion:On the basis of proliferative index alone it is not possible to comment on biological behavior of KCOTs associated with syndrome versus those of solitary and recurrent. There is probably a mesenchymal role which needs to be researched.
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