Evaluation of Polycystin-1 Expression in Dentigerous Cyst and Asymptomatic Dental Follicle.

BACKGROUND: Primary cilium has been hypothesized to play a role in the pathogenesis of dentigerous cyst. The role of primary cilium associated protein, Polycystin-1, that has been associated/ implicated in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney diseases has not been studied in dentigerous cysts. AIM AND OBJECTIVE: To study and compare the expression of Polycystin-1 in dental follicular tissue and dentigerous cyst and to identify the prevalence of dentigerous cyst in chronic renal disease patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections of Dental follicles (n=31) and Dentigerous cyst (n=15) which were confirmed clinically, radiographically and histopathologically were included in this study. The sections were stained with antibodies against Polycystin-1 and staining intensity was graded as nil (0), mild (+) , moderate (++) and intense ( +++) . Oral screening was also done for 100 patients with chronic renal diseases. RESULTS: Polycystin-1 expression between dentigerous cyst and dental follicles were statistically significant (P˂ 0.05). The intensity of staining varied between the epithelial cells of dentigerous cyst and dental follicles. It was observed that no clinical evidence of dentigerous cyst was present in 100 chronic renal disease patients. CONCLUSION: The significant difference in the expression of Polycystin-1 between dentigerous cyst and dental follicle suggests that Polycystin-1 can have a role in the transformation of dental follicle to dentigerous cyst.