Giant Cells of Various Lesions Are Characterised by Different Expression Patterns of HLA-Molecules and Molecules Involved in the Cell Cycle, Bone Metabolism, and Lineage Affiliation: An Immunohistochemical Study with a Review of the Literature

Resumen

Giant cells (GCs) are found in many different tissues and among different backgrounds, including reactive, and neoplastic settings. It is not yet fully understood whether GCs in similar settings or with related functions share the same surface antigen expression. We performed antigen profiling of GCs via immunohistochemistry in multiple reactive and neoplastic lesions. We were able to characterise distinct groups of GCs with similar expression patterns, as well as GCs in some lesions that had a unique antigen expression pattern. These findings may help in the diagnosis of histologically similar GC-rich lesions and provide further insight into the function and origin of these cells.