title: Immunohistochemical expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and matrix metalloproteinase-9 in radicular and residual radicular cysts.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study assessed and compared the immunoexpression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in radicular cysts (RCs) and residual radicular cysts (RRCs), relating them to the angiogenic index and the intensity of the inflammatory infiltrate.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty RCs and 10 RRCs were evaluated by immunohistochemistry using anti-VEGF and anti-MMP-9 antibodies. The angiogenic index was determined by microvessel count (MVC) using anti-von Willebrand factor antibody.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expression of both VEGF and MMP-9 was higher in RCs than in RRCs. RCs and RRCs presented strong epithelial expression of VEGF, irrespective of the intensity of the inflammatory infiltrate. Lesions with strong expression of MMP-9 showed significantly higher number of immunopositive cells for VEGF (p<0.05) and higher MVC (p<0.05). Lesions with dense inflammatory infiltrate exhibited significantly higher MVC (p<0.05) and higher number of immunopositive cells for VEGF (p<0.05). There was a positive correlation between both MVC (p<0.05) and the quantity of immunopositive cells for VEGF (p<0.05), with intensity of the inflammatory infiltrate. In addition, it was observed a positive correlation between the number of immunopositive cells for VEGF and MVC (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VEGF and MMP-9 might play important roles in the angiogenesis in RCs and RRCs. In these lesions, the expression of these molecules and the MVC is closely related to the intensity of the inflammatory infiltrate. The expression of VEGF in the epithelial lining of RCs and RRCs might be important for the enlargement of these lesions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, Planalto Central Dental School, Brasília, DF, Brazil.
authors.forename: Patrícia Alvarez
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Ruiz
authors.forename: Orlando Ayrton de
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Toledo
authors.forename: Cassiano Francisco Weege
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Nonaka
authors.forename: Leão Pereira
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.forename: Lélia Batista de
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Souza
mesh_terms: D003238:Connective Tissue; D042783:Endothelial Cells; D004848:Epithelium; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007249:Inflammation; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism*; D055806:Microvessels; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000209:etiology*; D011842:Radicular Cyst / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism*; D011897:Random Allocation; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*; D014841:von Willebrand Factor
chemical_list: D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D014841:von Willebrand Factor; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9