The Significance of Relative Claudin Expression in Odontogenic Tumors

Claudins are integral to the structure and function of tight junctions. Altered claudin expression has been shown to affect disease behavior and patient prognosis in various neoplasms. The objectives of this study were to analyze the claudin-1, -4 and -7 expression in odontogenic tumors and characterize their expression pattern in distinct tumor cell types in relation to the recurrence potential. Sixty-nine cases of odontogenic tumors, including 43 ameloblastomas (AM), 17 adenomatoid odontogenic tumors (AOT), 6 ameloblastic fibromas (AF) and 3 ameloblastic carcinomas (AC) were investigated for claudin-1, -4 and -7 expression immunohistochemically. The staining was analyzed semi-quantitatively and categorized into 4 levels, based on the percentage of positively stained neoplastic epithelial cells. Claudin-1 was expressed in all AOT and AF cases, whereas most AC (66.7%) showed no expression. The claudin-1 staining was moderate-to-intense in the odontogenic epithelium of AF. In contrast, its staining of ameloblast-like cells and stellate reticulum-like cells in AM was weak. Claudin-7 expression was noted in all tumor types studied, while the expression of claudin-4 was limited and mainly localized in the squamous differentiated cells of AM and AC. AM showed significantly higher claudin-4, but lower claudin-7 expression than AOT. In addition, AC showed diminished claudin-1 immunoreactivity, compared to AOT. Low claudin-1 expression in AM was significantly associated with the increased clinical recurrence. The loss of claudin-1 may underlie the locally invasive nature of AM.