Immunohistochemical localization of filaggrin in benign and malignant lesions of the human oral mucosa

Filaggrin is a protein normally present in the granular and horny layer of stratified squamous epithelia. We studied the presence of this protein in 83 benign lesions and in 73 cases of malignant epithelial tumours of the oral cavity and investigated its possible role as an immunohistochemical marker. The immunohistochemical technique was based on the P.A.P. method. The results in benign lesions show a distribution of filaggrin similar to that observed in the normal mucosa. By contrast, an irregular distribution of filaggrin is observed in areas of leukoplakia with parakeratosis and in papillomas. In malignant lesions the expression of this protein is closely related to the degree of differentiation of the cellular elements, being positive in more differentiated and negative in anaplastic areas. Therefore in some types of benign lesions filaggrin testifies an alteration of the normal process of keratinization. Filaggrin is more significant in malignant lesions in which its presence if any permits an evaluation of the degree of differentiation of the tumour.