title: Expression of transforming growth factor-β1, -β2, and -β3 in plagiocephalic fused and patent coronal suture.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Craniosynostosis is a relatively rare disease. Recently, several studies have investigated the etiology of craniosynostosis using animal models; however, the etiology remains unknown. In this study, we examined transforming growth factor (TGF) βs immunostaining from coronal sutures in patients with plagiocephaly.
  
  
  METHODS
  The examined materials were obtained from 3 patients who had undergone surgery for plagiocephaly. The sections were obtained from the normal patent side and the abnormal fused side of the coronal suture. The subjects included 2 girls and 1 boy with ages ranging from 1 to 4 years. Osteoblasts and connective tissue were observed with hematoxylin and eosin stain. Immunohistochemistry of the TGF-β isoforms was performed to investigate the difference between the patent and fused sutures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No connective tissue was observed in the fused suture. The osteoblasts in the patent suture were activated, whereas the osteoblasts in the fused suture were inactivated. The osteoblasts were positive for TGF-β1, -β2, and -β3. The periosteum tended to be positive for TGF-β2 and negative for TGF-β1 and -β3. There was no distinct difference between the patent and fused sutures in this study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, all sutures had fused completely, and therefore, we may have missed the period when there are differences in protein manifestation. The modulation of the growth factor profile at the suture site may have a potential therapeutic value.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Juntendo University Shizuoka Hospital, Shizuoka, Japan. ueda-a@juntendo.ac.jp
authors.forename: Akiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ueda
authors.forename: Azusa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.forename: Yuhei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Natori
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sonoue
authors.forename: Yuzo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Komuro
authors.forename: Masakazu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miyajima
authors.forename: Hajime
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Arai
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D003393:Cranial Sutures / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D059041:Plagiocephaly / Q000601:surgery*; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D053781:Transforming Growth Factor beta2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D053782:Transforming Growth Factor beta3 / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D053781:Transforming Growth Factor beta2; D053782:Transforming Growth Factor beta3