Biomed Pap Med Fac Univ Palacky Olomouc Czech Repub. 2013, 157(4):363-366 | DOI: 10.5507/bp.2012.088

Concentrations of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in lip tissue and their impact on cleft lip surgery healing

Karel Blaha^a, Jiri Borsky^b, Magdalena Kasparova^c, Anna Steklacova^a, Veronika Zajickova^a, Marta Pechova^a, Radka Matejova^a, Karel Kotaska^a, Tatjana Dostalova^c

^a Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Pathobiochemistry, 2^nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and Faculty Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic

^b Department of Plastic Surgery, Faculty Hospital Kralovske Vinohrady, Prague

^c Department of Paediatric Stomatology, 2^nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and Faculty Hospital Motol, Prague

Aim: To compare aspects of wound healing after cleft lip surgery performed within one week of age and wound healing after surgery performed within 2 - 4 months of age, especially concentrations of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1) in tissue removed during surgery.

Methods: 34 tissue samples (26 boys and 8 girls) were removed during surgery within one week of age (n=19) or within 2 - 4 months of age (n=15). Tissue samples were separated into epidermis, dermis and mucous membrane. Proteins were extracted in cacodylic buffer for 24 h at a temperature 2 - 8 ºC. Total protein concentrations were examined using a modification of the Lowry method. Samples were examined using ELISA kit Amersham Biotrak Activity Assay (GE Healthcare UK) for detection of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 concentrations.

Results: MMP-9: early surgery - epidermis 2.168±3.303 μg/g of protein (mean±SD), dermis 1.251±1.848 µg/g, 2 - 4 months surgery - epidermis 0.347±0.212 μg/g, dermis 0.555±0.276 µg/g. TIMP-1: early surgery - epidermis 1.762±2.162 μg/g, dermis 1.628±0.822 µg/g, mucous membrane 2.066±1.717 µg/g, 2 - 4 months surgery - epidermis 1.881±2.810 μg/g, dermis 3.117±1.540 µg/g, mucous membrane 4.833±6.550 µg/g.

Conclusions: There were no significant differences in concentrations of protein MMP-9 in epidermis and dermis and TIMP-1 in epidermis and mucous membrane according to time of surgery. Significantly decreased levels of TIMP-1 in dermis were found in samples obtained from early surgery compared to levels in samples obtained from 2 - 4 months surgery.

Keywords: matrix metalloproteinases, cleft lip, wound healing

Received: December 13, 2011; Accepted: August 27, 2012; Prepublished online: October 31, 2012; Published: December 12, 2013  Show citation