Figure 1

Msx-1 expression was reduced in ONJ-related periodontal tissue. (a) The Msx-1 staining was accentuated in periosteal cells, attached to the mineralized bone matrix. The bone trabeculae interconnecting fibrous tissue presented nuclear and cytoplasmic Msx-1 staining. (b) In the BONJ group, staining of periosteal cells was rare, and cytoplasmic staining was decreased, as was the cellular density of Msx-1-expressing fibroblasts in the fibrous and inflammatory tissue surrounding the bone matrix. (c) Relative cellular expression (labeling index) for Msx-1 was significantly reduced (Controls-ME: 34.29, IQR 24.0 vs. BONJ-ME: 14.03, IQR: 6.0; p < 0.05) in ONJ-related oral mucoperiosteum. (d) Relative gene expression for Msx-1 was suppressed 6.8-fold at the mRNA level in ONJ-related periosteum samples (Controls-ME: 1.00, IQR 0.25 vs. BONJ-ME: 0.15, IQR: 0.31; p < 0.03). Horizontal bars indicate median (ME), and error bars indicate interquartile range (IQR).