Appearance and Distribution of Tissue Remodellation Factors in the Hard Tissue of Patients Affected by Cleft Lip Palate

Bone repair after surgical intervention on cleft lip palate (CLP) depends on the coordinated action of multiple tissue regeneration factors. We determined the relative number and appearance of tissue factors: matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2), bone morphogenetic protein 2/4 (BMP 2/4), transforming growth factor beta (TGF-ß), Wnt3a protein (Wnt3a), Runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and osteoprotegerin in hard tissue of CLP patients during first time surgical intervention. Fourty-three CLP patients with 24 bone and 36 cartilage samples were involved. Immunohistochemistry was used to assess the levels of tissue factors and the semi-quantitative census method was used for quantification of immunological structures. The increased amount of MMP-2 and bFGF positive cells was detected in the CLP group in cartilage and bone (p < 0.05), compared to the controls. A statistically significant (p = 0.012) increased amount of BMP 2/4 positive cells was found in cartilage of CLP patients, in comparison to the control group. Increased appearance of MMP-2, bFGF in hard tissue of the CLP patients indicates the predominance of tissue degradation. Increased number of BMP2/4 positive chondrocytes suggests improved cartilage growth and better regeneration in CLP patients.