Background: Podoplanin is a transmembrane glycoprotein expressed on various normal or neoplastic cells. Some studies have shown that podoplanin promotes the migration and invasion of tumor cells. This study evaluated a podoplanin expression in Odontogenic Keratocysts (OKs) associated or not associated with Nevoid Basal Cell Carcinoma Syndrome (NBCCS) and in Orthokeratinized Odontogenic Cysts (OOCs).
Materials and methods: A total of 50 lesions were obtained in this study, 28 OKs, 18 OKs associated with NBCCS, and 4 OOCs. Immunohistochemical expression of podoplanin in epithelial cells was evaluated using the following score: (a) intensity of immunostaining: (0: absent, 1: weak, 2: moderate, 3: strong, and 4: very strong) and (b) number of positively cells (0: 0%, 1: <25%, 2: 25% to 50%, 3: 50% to 75%, and 4: >75%). The final score was determined by adding the scores of a and b and ranged from 0 to 8 (0: absent, 1 to 4: weak, and 5 to 8: strong).
Results: Podoplanin expression was significantly stronger in the basal layer OKs and NBCCS lesions. Further, podoplanin expression was the highest in the suprabasal layer of NBCCS lesions, followed by the suprabasal layers of OK and OOC lesions.
Conclusions: Podoplanin expression is different in lesions of different biological behaviors. Podoplanin seems to play a role in cell proliferation and migration.