title: MMP-13 (collagenase 3) localization in human temporomandibular joint discs with internal derangement.
abstract: The normal articular disc of the human temporomandibular joint (TMJ) consists of regularly arranged collagen fibers and fibroblast-like cells. Disc tissue is subjected to various types of loading. Adaptive remodelling entails microscopic changes in which different types of collagen and non-collagen proteins, as well as matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), are involved. Collagenase-3 (MMP-13) seems to play a key role. The aim of the study was to evaluate its involvement in TMJ disc histopathology. We studied 10 discs from patients with arthropathy of the TMJ. Paraffin wax-embedded sections were processed for histological and immunohistochemical analysis. A well-characterized mouse monoclonal anti-MMP-13 antibody (anti-collagenase 3) was used. The results showed increased MMP-13 immunoreactivity in TMJ diseased disc tissue was correlated with the severity of the histopathological changes. The more severe the pathological changes, the greater the number of immunolabelled cells detected. Nearly all chondrocyte-like cells were immunopositive, whereas fibroblast-like cells and fibrochondrocytes were more rarely labelled. MMP-13 upregulation in disc tissue from patients with TMJ internal derangement suggests that MMP-13 is involved in disc histopathology, and that disc cells actively participate in the synthesis of extracellular matrix-degrading proteinases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, II Dental Unity, University of Catania, Catania, Italy. rleonard@unict.it
authors.forename: Rosalia
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Leonardi
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Loreto
authors.forename: Ersilia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Barbato
authors.forename: Rosario
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Caltabiano
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lombardo
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Musumeci
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lo Muzio
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002452:Cell Count; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D053509:Matrix Metalloproteinase 13 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019224:Temporomandibular Joint Disc / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D053509:Matrix Metalloproteinase 13