Increased expression of NFATc1 in giant cell lesions of the jaws, cherubism and brown tumor of hyperparathyroidism

A variety of diseases of the jaws may present multinucleated giant cells. These diseases include central giant cell lesions (CGCL), peripheral giant cell lesions (PGCL), brown tumor of hyperparathyroidism (BTH), and cherubism. The multinucleated giant cells in these lesions are osteoclast-like. Since NFATc1 plays a significant role in osteoclast differentiation, the present study aimed to compare the expression of NFATc1 in CGCL, PGCL, BTH and cherubism. A total of 14 formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissue samples of CGCL (n=4), PGCL (n=5), BTH (n=3) and cherubism (n=2) were included in the study. An immunohistochemical analysis was performed to investigate the NFATc1 protein. The majority of giant cells in all of the cases were positive for nuclear NFATc1 and the immunostaining pattern was similar in all of the groups. Although our study supports the hypothesis that giant cell accumulation in PGCL, CGCL, BTH and cherubism is mediated by NFATc1, functional studies are required to investigate this hypothesis.