Expression of calretinin in odontogenic tumors: An observational study

Background and Aim: Calretinin is largely expressed in the central and peripheral nervous system and is also known to be expressed in the odontogenic epithelium during odontogenesis and in certain odontogenic tumors. However, the role of calretinin in the pathogenesis of odontogenic tumors is yet to be confirmed. Thus, the present study is aimed at evaluating the expression and role of calretinin in selected odontogenic tumors. Materials and Methods: The study included six ameloblastoma and one adenomatoid odontogenic tumor, one calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumor and one deciduous tooth germ. Sections were subjected to immunohistochemistry procedure, and staining intensity, pattern, and localization of the immunopositive cells were determined. Results: Results showed that 50% ameloblastomas were immunopositive to calretinin, whereas adenomatoid and calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumor showed mild reactivity. Intensity was higher in the ameloblastomas compared with the other odontogenic tumors. Conclusion: Calretinin appears to be expressing significantly more in ameloblastoma when compared with other odontogenic tumors. On the basis of these results, it is suggested that calretinin might play a possible role in the pathogenesis of ameloblastomas. However, statistics could not be applied due to the lesser sample size and hence we suggest that further studies have to be done along with other proliferative cell cycle and apoptotic markers with larger sample size.