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Kim, Ahn, Kim, and Yoon: Comparative Ki-67 Expression and Apoptosis in the Odontogenic Keratocyst Associated with or without an Impacted Tooth in Addition to Unilocular and Multilocular Varieties
Original Article
Yonsei Medical Journal

Yonsei Medical Journal 2003; 44(5): 841-846.

Published online: 30 March 2009

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2003.44.5.841

Comparative Ki-67 Expression and Apoptosis in the Odontogenic Keratocyst Associated with or without an Impacted Tooth in Addition to Unilocular and Multilocular Varieties

Do Kyung Kim1, Sang Gun Ahn1, Jin Kim2, Jung Hoon Yoon1

1Oral Biology Research Institute, College of Dentistry Chosun University, Gwangju, Korea.

2Department of Oral Pathology, Oral Cancer Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, Korea.

Reprint address: requests to Dr. Jung Hoon Yoon, Department of Oral Pathology, School of Dentistry, Chosun University, #375 Seosuk-dong Dong-gu, Gwangju 501-759, Korea. Tel: 82-62-230-6879, Fax: 82-62-223-3205, jhyoon@chosun.ac.kr

Received 6 May 2003       Accepted 24 July 2003

Copyright © 2003 The Yonsei University College of Medicine

Abstract

It is not known whether the presence of an impacted tooth or the radiographic types in an odontogenic keratocyst (OKC) change the clinical biologic behavior and therapeutic approaches. This study evaluated the comparative proliferative activity and apoptosis in OKC associated with or without an impacted tooth, as well as between the unilocular and multilocular OKC varieties.
Immunohistochemical expression of Ki-67 as a proliferation marker and the apoptotic reactions were assessed by the TUNEL method for 32 cases of OKC (OKC with impacted tooth, n=16; OKC without impacted tooth, n=16) and 10 cases of dentigerous cyst (DC).
OKC showed a greater proliferative potential and more apoptotic reactions than DC. In particular, OKC contained proliferating and apoptotic cells situated predominantly in the suprabasal and superficial layers, respectively. However, no significant difference was found between OKC associated with or without impacted tooth, or between the unilocular and multilocular OKC varieties, in terms of proliferative activity or apoptosis.
In conclusion, OKC is characterized by an increase in both cell proliferation and apoptosis, suggesting a unique proliferative and differentiation process. It is believed that incomplete removal or other contributing factors, rather than intrinsic growth or apoptosis, may be the main reasons for the aggressive biologic behavior or recurrence in multilocular OKC.

Keywords: Odontogenic keratocyst, impacted tooth, proliferative activity, apoptosis

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