title: Expression of metalloproteinases and their tissue inhibitors in gingiva affected by hereditary gingival fibromatosis: analysis of three cases within a family.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hereditary gingival fibromatosis (HGF) is a benign disorder manifested by fibrous enlargement of keratinized gingiva. Evidence exists concerning the role of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their tissue inhibitors (TIMPs) in mediating normal and pathological processes, including HGF. Nevertheless, there are few and contradictory results on the analysis of MMPs and TIMPs transcripts in this pathology.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied the expression of the transcripts encoding MMP-1, -2 and -9 and TIMP-1 and -2 in gingival biopsies, obtained from three cases of HGF within a family, by semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis. Samples were also processed for gelatin zymography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Except for MMP-9, most transcripts presented a higher level of expression in biopsies from HGF patients compared with control subjects. Accordingly, MMP-9 gelatinase activity was detected at low and similar levels among samples. Moreover, MMP-2 enzymatic activity was not detected at all.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The mRNA expression of MMP-1 and -2 and TIMP-1 and -2 does not explain the gingival overgrowth presented in these cases. In addition, it is suggested that the gene expression of those molecules in the course of HGF is regulated at the translational or post-translational level.
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. lorena.da@terra.com.br
authors.forename: L Da Ros
authors.initials: Lda R
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.forename: G A P
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Borojevic
authors.forename: I B
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Otazu
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Feres-Filho
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D004792:Enzyme Precursors / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D005351:Fibromatosis, Gingival / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000235:genetics; D005881:Gingiva / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D019714:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D004792:Enzyme Precursors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; D019714:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases; C120487:pro-matrix metalloproteinase 9; C522361:MMP2 protein, human; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9; C522360:MMP1 protein, human; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1