Immunohistochemical expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and matrix metalloproteinase-9 in radicular and residual radicular cysts

Abstract

ObjectiveThis study assessed and compared the immunoexpression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in radicular cysts (RCs) and residual radicular cysts (RRCs), relating them to the angiogenic index and the intensity of the inflammatory infiltrate. Material and MethodsTwenty RCs and 10 RRCs were evaluated by immunohistochemistry using anti-VEGF and anti-MMP-9 antibodies. The angiogenic index was determined by microvessel count (MVC) using anti-von Willebrand factor antibody. ResultsThe expression of both VEGF and MMP-9 was higher in RCs than in RRCs. RCs and RRCs presented strong epithelial expression of VEGF, irrespective of the intensity of the inflammatory infiltrate. Lesions with strong expression of MMP-9 showed significantly higher number of immunopositive cells for VEGF (p<0.05) and higher MVC (p<0.05). Lesions with dense inflammatory infiltrate exhibited significantly higher MVC (p<0.05) and higher number of immunopositive cells for VEGF (p<0.05). There was a positive correlation between both MVC (p<0.05) and the quantity of immunopositive cells for VEGF (p<0.05), with intensity of the inflammatory infiltrate. In addition, it was observed a positive correlation between the number of immunopositive cells for VEGF and MVC (p<0.05). ConclusionsVEGF and MMP-9 might play important roles in the angiogenesis in RCs and RRCs. In these lesions, the expression of these molecules and the MVC is closely related to the intensity of the inflammatory infiltrate. The expression of VEGF in the epithelial lining of RCs and RRCs might be important for the enlargement of these lesions.

Exploring the concept of inflammatory angiogenesis in keratocystic odontogenic tumor

“…An increase in inflammatory cells can result in propagation of cytokines and chemokines, some of which are angiogenic (22). Microvessel count and MVD and have been found to be higher in cysts with more accentuated inflammation (20,23). Moreover, angiogenesis itself can upregulate inflammation through fascilitating and increasing transportation of inflammatory cells, providing oxygen and nutrients to the site harboring inflammation and finally increased secretion of inflammation attracting factors due to the existence of a higher number of endothelial cells in the region.…”

“…Therefore maybe the extremely high number of inflammatory cells in radicular cysts contributed to the significant difference found in the MVD score between the KCOTs and RCs evaluated in the current investigation. In RCs, there is a continuous secretion of bacterial toxins from the infected root canal which leads to a constant migration of inflammatory cells to the region (23,24). This is in contrast to the one-time entrance of inflammation to the fibrous wall of KCOTs following a single exposure through the cortical bone (3,4).…”

Immunohistochemical expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in orofacial lesions – A review

“…29 VEGF was studied in radicular and residual cysts by Ruitz et al, and its expression in epithelial lining of cysts might be important for the enlargement of these lesions and VEGF might play important roles in the angiogenesis in residual cysts and radicular cysts. 30 Mitrou et al studied VEGF in odontogenic cysts, which was expressed in the epithelium of odontogenic keratocysts, dentigerous cysts, and radicular cysts in varying intensity, and concluded that VEGF expression by the odontogenic epithelium is not induced solely by inflammation. 31 Leonardi et al studied detection of VEGF/VPF in periapical lesions, using anti-VEGF antibody and observed that, in periapical granulomas without epithelium, almost all of the inflammatory cells were immunoreactive to anti-VEGF/VPF antibody.…”

Fluoride modulates preosteoblasts viability and matrix metalloproteinases-2 and -9 activities

“…Collectively they are capable of degrading all kinds of extracellular matrix proteins. Also, they play an important role in tissue remodeling associated with various physiological and pathological processes such as morphogenesis, angiogenesis, tissue repair, cirrhosis, arthritis and metastasis (8,9). Normal human osteoblasts express MMP-2 and in vitro, they secrete abundant MMP-2.…”