title: A case of mandible hypoplasia treated with autologous bone graft from mandibular symphysis: Expression of VEGF and receptors in bone regeneration.
abstract: The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)/VEGF receptor (VEGFR) system plays an important role in angiogenesis and osteogenesis during both skeletal development and postnatal bone growth and repair. Indeed, protein expression changes of this system could contribute to craniofacial defects commonly associated with a variety of congenital syndromes. Similarly to other craniofacial bones, mandible arises from neural crest cells of the neuroectodermal germ layer, and undergoes membranous ossification. Here, we report a case of left mandibular hypoplasia in a 42-year-old man treated with autologous bone graft from mandibular symphysis. After 3 months from surgical reconstruction, the protein expression of VEGF and receptors (VEGFR-1, -2 and -3) in regenerated bone tissue was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. At variance with the mandibular symphysis bone harvested for graft surgery, we observed de novo expression of VEGF and VEGFRs in osteoblasts and osteocytes from post-graft regenerating mandible bone tissue. In particular, while VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-3 immunopositivity was widespread in osteoblasts, that of VEGFR-2 was scattered. Among the three receptors, VEGFR-3 was the more intensively expressed both in osteoblasts and osteocytes. These findings suggest that VEGFR-2 might be produced during the early period of regeneration, while VEGFR-1 might participate in bone cell maintenance during the middle or late consolidation period. VEGFR-3 might, instead, represent a specific signal for ectomesenchymal lineage differentiation during bone regeneration. Modulation of VEGF/VEGFR signaling could contribute to graft integration and new bone formation during mandibular regeneration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Section of Anatomy and Histology, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy. Electronic address: mirca.marini@unifi.it.
authors.forename: Mirca
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marini
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, University of Florence, Largo Palagi 1, 50139 Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bertolai
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Section of Anatomy and Histology, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Mirko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Manetti
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioscience and Territory, University of Molise, Contrada Fonte Lappone, 86090 Pesche, Isernia, Italy.
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sgambati
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001861:Bone Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008334:Mandible / Q000378:metabolism*; D009055:Mouth / Q000601:surgery*; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000378:metabolism*; D010011:Osteocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor
keywords: Bone graft; Mandible; Osteogenesis/Skeletogenesis; VEGF; VEGFRs