Heparanase and its related molecules in odontogenic tumors

Abstract

Heparan sulphate proteoglycans (HSPGs) constitute a group of ubiquitous macromolecules of cell surface and extracellular matrices (ECM). HS chains of HSPGs can bind numerous molecules including growth factors, cytokines and chemokines. Thus the degradation of HS chains by endoglycosidases will affect profoundly cell function. Heparanase is a mammalian endo-β-glucuronidase enzyme capable of selectively degrading HS chains. Aside from the enzymatic functions, heparanase is preferentially expressed by human tumors, and its over-expression in tumor cells provides invasive phenotype. We previously reported that heparanase expression and the HS-bound molecules are important for odontogenesis and development of odontogenic tumors. It can be concluded that the growth and progression of benign and malignant odontogenic tumors are related to the deranged immunoexpression and localization of HS and heparanase molecules and that heparanase may be responsible for growth and progression of odontogenic tumors by modulating the availability and function of HS binding growth factors.