Protein expression signatures of the ING family in benign odontogenic epithelial lesions

This study analyzed the immunoexpression of ING proteins in benign odontogenic lesions and dental follicles (DF), assessing interrelationships and correlations with p53, Bcl-2 and Bax.

Twenty conventional ameloblastomas (AMB), 20 adenomatoid odontogenic tumors (AOT), 20 odontogenic keratocysts (OKC) and 10 DF were analyzed by immunohistochemistry for ING1-5, p53, Bcl-2, and Bax, considering cellular localization.

ING2 was higher in DF, OKC, and AMB versus AOT (p < .0001). ING3 was lower in AMB versus DF (p = .003), and ING4 was reduced in OKC and AMB versus DF, and lower in AMB versus AOT (p < .0001). Nuclear/nuclear-cytoplasmic ING was predominant in DF, and cytoplasmic/nuclear-cytoplasmic expression in odontogenic lesions, especially OKC and AMB. ING proteins showed strong interrelationships, particularly among nuclear-cytoplasmic ING1/3/4 in DF, AOT, and AMB, with some negative correlations for nuclear-cytoplasmic versus cytoplasmic compartments (p < .05). Significant correlations with apoptosis-related markers were limited. Hierarchical clustering identified 3 molecular clusters, associated with different tissue types (p < .0001), reflecting combined ING expression patterns and apoptosis-related proteins.

Distinct molecular signatures of ING protein expression in odontogenic lesions reveal nuclear loss and cytoplasmic redistribution in OKC and AMB, suggesting coordinated involvement of these proteins in odontogenic lesion pathogenesis.