Immunohistochemical expression of MMPs 1, 7, and 26 in syndrome and nonsyndrome odontogenic keratocysts.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to analyze the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) 1, 7, and 26 in odontogenic keratocysts (OKCs) associated with Gorlin syndrome (SOKCs) and nonsyndrome OKCs (NSOKCs).

STUDY DESIGN: Twenty-one SOKCs and 20 NSOKCs were evaluated for epithelial expression of MMP-1, MMP-7, and MMP-26 and for mesenchymal expression of MMP-1 by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS: Strong epithelial positivity to MMP-1 was observed in 76% of SOKCs and in 15% of NSOKCs (P < .05). Strong mesenchymal immunoreactivity to MMP-1 was observed in 38% of SOKCs and in 20% of NSOKCs (P > .05). Epithelial immunoreactivity to MMP-7 was strongly positive in 67% of SOKCs and in 40% of NSOKCs (P > .05). For MMP-26, strong positivity was found in 62% of SOKCs, in contrast to 35% of NSOKCs (P > .05).

CONCLUSION: MMPs-1, -7 and -26 may play important roles in the biology of OKCs. Furthermore, the presence of these proteases at higher levels in SOKCs may help to explain increased OKC aggressiveness associated with nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome.