Immunoexpression of transforming growth factor-β3 (TGF-β3) and receptor III of β transforming growth factor (TGF β-RIII) in pediatric patients with complete or incomplete non-syndromic cleft palate

Abstract

Introduction: Transforming growth factor β3 (TGF-β3), and receptor III of transforming growth factor β (TGFβ-RIII), regulate epithelial mesenchymal interactions. The lack of TGF-β3 and TGFβ-RIII expression causes defects in palatal fusion. Objective: To observe the immunoexpression of TGF-β3 and TGFβ-RIII in pediatric patients with non-syndromic complete or incomplete cleft palate (CP). Material and methods: The study design was observational, descriptive, prospective and transversal. Samples were taken from 20 complete and incomplete CP patients from five to 28 months of age. Samples of mucoperiostium were removed from the cleft in the palate during palatoplasty. In order to perform immunohistochemistry, samples were processed with VENTANA BenchMark Ultra equipment, using TGF-β3 and TGFβ-RIII antibody. Immunoexpression was evaluated by means of global cell impression. Results: TGF-β3 immunoexpression was greater in epithelial cells than in fi broblasts of patients with complete and incomplete CP; however, TGFβ-RIII immunoexpression was greater within the fi broblasts than in epithelial cells of patients with complete cleft palate. Conclusions: It was concluded that the lack of TGFβ-RIII expression in the epithelium may be related to the lack of fusion of the palatal shelves. It would be of great interest to perform a more in-depth analysis of the expressions of TGF-β3 and TGFβ-RIII within different cell populations.