Expression of TGF-β and MMP-2 in hereditary gingival fibromatosis epithelial cells. A possible contribution of the epithelium to its pathogenesis

Naglaa M Kamal; Mai A Hamouda; Nora Abdelgawad

doi:10.1016/j.jobcr.2022.08.015

Expression of TGF-β and MMP-2 in hereditary gingival fibromatosis epithelial cells. A possible contribution of the epithelium to its pathogenesis

J Oral Biol Craniofac Res. 2022 Sep-Oct;12(5):617-622. doi: 10.1016/j.jobcr.2022.08.015. Epub 2022 Aug 14.

Authors

Naglaa M Kamal¹, Mai A Hamouda¹, Nora Abdelgawad²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Oral Pathology, Faculty of Oral and Dental Medicine, Ahram Canadian University, 6th of October, Egypt.
² Department of Oral Medicine, Periodontology, Diagnosis and Radiology, Faculty of Dental Medicine for Girls, Al Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt.

Abstract

Background: Although the molecular mechanisms that cause the development of hereditary gingival fibromatosis are not fully understood, multiple theories have been suggested to clarify its pathogenesis. However, the overlying keratinocytes' function is poorly comprehended. This work aimed to investigate the expression of TGF-β and MMP-2 in hereditary gingival fibromatosis epithelial cells compared to the normal gingival epithelium to give an insight into the mechanism of the development of this condition.

Methods: Biopsies were obtained from 20 hereditary gingival fibromatosis patients and 20 healthy controls. Biopsies were stained immunohistochemically and statistically analyzed for MMP-2 and TGF-β expression.

Results: Regarding MMP-2, The hereditary gingival fibromatosis group recorded a higher mean value compared to the normal gingiva, with a mean difference of 3.29 ± 0.34. This difference was statistically significant (p = 0.00). Regarding TGF-β, a higher mean value was recorded in the HGF group compared to the normal gingiva, with a mean difference of 15.88 ± 1.05 The difference was statistically significant (p = 0.00). A strong positive correlation was detected between MMP-2 and TGF-β (R = 0.534, p = 0.015).

Conclusions: In hereditary gingival fibromatosis, the epithelium expresses higher levels of TGF-β and MMP-2 than normal gingival tissue. There was an evident positive correlation between MMP-2 and TGF-β. Our data suggest that the expression of TGF-β and MMP2 by epithelial cells of HGF may play a role in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition pathogenic pathway.

Keywords: Cytokines; Gingival fibromatosis; Pathogenesis.