Comparative Expression of Laminin 1 in Odontogenic Keratocysts, Dentigerous Cysts, Radicular Cysts, and Ameloblastomas: An Immunohistochemical Analysis

Aim: Laminins are essential basement membrane glycoproteins regulating odontogenic epithelial behavior. This study evaluated Laminin 1 expression across various odontogenic lesions to correlate its distribution with their distinct clinical behaviors and invasive potential. Methods: In this retrospective study, 43 biopsy-proven cases - odontogenic keratocyst (OKC, n = 10), dentigerous cyst (DC, n = 12), radicular cyst (RC, n = 11), and ameloblastoma (n = 10) - were evaluated for Laminin 1 expression using immunohistochemistry. Expression was assessed at the epithelial-connective tissue interface and within the cytoplasm of central and peripheral epithelial cells using a 10% positivity threshold. Statistical analysis included the chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, and multinomial logistic regression. Results: Interface expression was highest in OKC (50.0%) and lowest in RC (9.1%). Conversely, cytoplasmic expression was significantly higher in RC (72.7%) and ameloblastoma (60.0%) compared to DC (25.0%) and OKC (20.0%) (P = 0.032). Logistic regression identified cytoplasmic laminin negativity (odds ratio [OR] = 76.7, P = 0.009) and increasing age (OR = 1.19, P = 0.006) as significant predictors for OKC relative to RC. No significant correlation was found between laminin expression and radiographic unilocularity versus multilocularity (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Differential Laminin 1 localization reflects the diverse biological nature of odontogenic lesions. The high interface expression in OKC correlates with its aggressive growth, while increased cytoplasmic expression in RC may be inflammation-driven. These findings suggest Laminin 1 as a potential biomarker for understanding odontogenic lesion progression.