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Published on: May 3, 2024
A Single-Cell and Spatial Transcriptomic Analysis of Conventional Ameloblastoma
Yueqi Shi1, Hao Lu2, Shaoyi Wang3
1Department of Stomatology, Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Oral Diseases
|July 21, 2026
Summary
This study reveals marsupialization treatment alters conventional ameloblastoma by inducing an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). This process, involving key genes like DLX5 and MMP13, changes cellular composition and contributes to treatment effects.
Area of Science:
- Oral pathology
- Developmental biology
- Cancer research
Background:
- Conventional ameloblastoma is a common odontogenic tumor with poorly understood cellular dynamics.
- Marsupialization is a conservative surgical treatment for ameloblastoma, but its cellular effects are unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the cellular and spatial characteristics of conventional ameloblastoma.
- To investigate how marsupialization treatment alters the tumor's cellular landscape.
- To identify molecular mechanisms underlying treatment-induced changes.
Main Methods:
- Single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics were employed on pre- and post-marsupialization ameloblastoma samples.
- Bioinformatic analyses included clustering, trajectory inference, and network analysis.
- Immunofluorescence was used for validation of key markers and processes like epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT).
Main Results:
- A continuous cell trajectory from epithelium-like to mesenchyme-like cells was observed after marsupialization.
- Epithelium-like cells resembled primitive outer enamel progenitors, while mesenchyme-like cells represented an abnormal differentiated state.
- Significant alterations in transcription factors DLX5 and TWIST1, and EMT markers (FN1, VIM), were detected, indicating an EMT process.
Conclusions:
- The study provides a comprehensive cellular and spatial map of conventional ameloblastoma before and after marsupialization.
- The findings suggest that epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), potentially driven by DLX5 and MMP13, plays a crucial role in the therapeutic response to marsupialization.
