Evaluation of MMP-1, MMP-10, TIMP-1, a-SMA and TGF-b1 in angiofibromas of tuberous sclerosis.

AIM: Tuberous sclerosis is a neurocutaneous syndrome characterized by affect multiple organs such as brain, kidneys, heart, eyes, lungs and skin. The aim of this study was to analyze the pattern of immunolocalization of markers MMP-1, MMP-10, TIMP-1, α-SMA and TGF-ß1 in oral and facial angiofibromas in individuals affected by tuberous sclerosis. METHODS: Microscopical analyses on hematoxilin-eosin and immunohistochemistry reactions were performed to analyze the previously cited biological markers pattern in orofacial angiofibromas. RESULTS: Reactivity was observed for MMP-1, MMP-10 and TGF-ß1, in addition to negative for TIMP-1 and α-SMA, except perivascular and epithelial staining for this. Concerning the intensity, a strong marking for MMP-1 in the basal layer of the epithelium, and a slight positivity in the suprabasal layers predominated. MMP-10 was slightly expressed in all epithelial layers. The connective tissue showed slight to moderate reactivity for MMP-1 and MMP-10. TIMP-1 demonstrated slight to moderate marking in the various layers of a single lesion and to TGF-ß1 expression showed varied in intensity staining both between lesions and between tissue layers. CONCLUSION: MMP-1, MMP-10 and TGF-ß1 exhibited reactivity in oral and cutaneous angiofibromas with heterogeneous distribution patterns among both tissue elements analyzed in the intensity of marking the same among the specimens. TIMP-1 showed reactivity predominantly negative in the specimens analyzed and α-SMA presented restricted to epithelial and perivascular regions of these lesions.