Concentrations of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in lip tissue and their impact on cleft lip surgery healing.

AIM: To compare aspects of wound healing after cleft lip surgery performed within one week of age and wound healing after surgery performed within 2 - 4 months of age, especially concentrations of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1) in tissue removed during surgery. METHODS: 34 tissue samples (26 boys and 8 girls) were removed during surgery within one week of age (n=19) or within 2 - 4 months of age (n=15). Tissue samples were separated into epidermis, dermis and mucous membrane. Proteins were extracted in cacodylic buffer for 24 h at a temperature 2 - 8 ºC. Total protein concentrations were examined using a modification of the Lowry method. Samples were examined using ELISA kit Amersham Biotrak Activity Assay (GE Healthcare UK) for detection of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 concentrations. RESULTS: MMP-9: early surgery - epidermis 2.168 ± 3.303 µg/g of protein (mean ± SD), dermis 1.251 ± 1.848 µg/g, 2 - 4 months surgery - epidermis 0.347 ± 0.212 µg/g, dermis 0.555 ± 0.276 µg/g. TIMP-1: early surgery - epidermis 1.762 ± 2.162 µg/g, dermis 1.628 ± 0.822 µg/g, mucous membrane 2.066 ± 1.717 µg/g, 2 - 4 months surgery - epidermis 1.881 ± 2.810 µg/g, dermis 3.117 ± 1.540 µg/g, mucous membrane 4.833 ± 6.550 µg/g. CONCLUSIONS: There were no significant differences in concentrations of protein MMP-9 in epidermis and dermis and TIMP-1 in epidermis and mucous membrane according to time of surgery. Significantly decreased levels of TIMP-1 in dermis were found in samples obtained from early surgery compared to levels in samples obtained from 2 - 4 months surgery.

Quantitative structure-activity relationships for toxicity and genotoxicity of halogenated aliphatic compounds: wing spot test of Drosophila melanogaster.

Halogenated aliphatic compounds were evaluated for toxic and genotoxic effects in the somatic mutation and recombination test employing Drosophila melanogaster. The tested chemicals included chlorinated, brominated and iodinated; mono-, di- and tri-substituted; saturated and unsaturated alkanes: 1,2-dibromoethane, 1-bromo-2-chloroethane, 1-iodopropane, 2,3-dichloropropene, 3-bromo-1-propene, epibromohydrin, 2-iodobutane, 3-chloro-2-methylpropene, 1,2,3-trichloropropane, 1,2-dichloroethane, 1,2-dichlorobutane, 1-chloro-2-methylpropane, 1,3-dichloropropane, 1,2-dichloropropane, 2-chloroethymethylether, 1-bromo-2-methylpropane and 1-chloropentane. N-methyl-N-nitrosourea served as the positive and distilled water as the negative control. The set of chemicals for the toxicological testing was selected by the use of statistical experiment design. Group of unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons were generally more toxic than saturated analogues. The genotoxic effect was observed with 14 compounds in the wing spot test, while 3 substances did not show any genotoxicity by using the wing spot test at 50% lethal concentration. The highest number of wing spots was observed in genotoxicity assay with 1-bromo-2-chloroethane, 1,2-dichloroethane, 1,2-dibromoethane and 1-iodopropane. Nucleophilic superdelocalizability calculated by quantum mechanics appears to be a good parameter for prediction of both toxicity and genotoxicity effects of halogenated aliphatic compounds.