Vimentin 3 expression in odontogenic keratocysts –
a molecular and immunohistochemical study

Ipek Atak Secen; Heike Goebel; Emre Barış; Melanie Freifrau von Brandenstein; Sibel Elif Gültekin

doi:10.5114/pjp.2025.159041

eISSN: 2084-9869
ISSN: 1233-9687

Polish Journal of Pathology

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abstract:

Original paper

Vimentin 3 expression in odontogenic keratocysts – a molecular and immunohistochemical study

Ipek Atak Secen

¹

,

Heike Goebel

²

,

Emre Barış

¹

,

Melanie Freifrau von Brandenstein

³

,

Sibel Elif Gültekin

¹

Department of Oral Pathology, Faculty of Dentistry, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey
Institute of General Pathology and Pathological Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
Clinic and Polyclinic for Urology, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany

Pol J Pathol 2025; 76 (4)

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5114/pjp.2025.159041

Online publish date: 2026/02/04

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Odontogenic keratocysts (OKC) are locally aggressive jaw lesions characterized by a high recurrence rate. Vimentin 3 (VIM3), a truncated splice variant of full-length vimentin (VIMFL), has recently emerged as a potential biomarker in odontogenic tumors.

However, its role in OKC and association with recurrence remain unexplored. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples from OKC (n = 25) and dentigerous cysts (DC) (n = 25) were analyzed. Immunohistochemical staining for VIM3, VIMFL, p53, and Ki-67 was performed. In parallel, reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to assess mRNA expression levels of VIM3, VIMFL, and p53.

While VIM3 expression did not significantly differ between OKC and DC, recurrent OKC exhibited significantly higher VIM3 labeling indices compared to non-recurrent cases (p = 0.040).

This study demonstrates, for the first time, the expression of VIM3 in OKC. Although the findings are promising, further research with larger cohorts and functional validation is required to clarify the mechanistic role of VIM3 in odontogenic cyst biology.

keywords:

Vimentin 3 expression in odontogenic keratocysts – a molecular and immunohistochemical study

Ipek Atak Secen 1 , Heike Goebel 2 , Emre Barış 1 , Melanie Freifrau von Brandenstein 3 , Sibel Elif Gültekin 1

odontogenic keratocysts, recurrence, RT-qPCR, vimentin 3 (VIM3)

Ipek Atak Secen

¹

,

Heike Goebel

²

,

Emre Barış

¹

,

Melanie Freifrau von Brandenstein

³

,

Sibel Elif Gültekin

¹