Two cases of internal derangement of the temporomandibular joint with specific immunohistochemical distribution of MMP-3

Abstract

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) can degrade various kinds of extracellular matrices (ECM) and are thought to play an important role in the degradation of ECM in various diseases.
In this study, we analyzed immunohistochemically MMP-3 localization in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disc of a patient with painful closed lock and a patient with osteoarthrosis.
MMP-3 showed two patterns in staining profile. In the first type, diffuse staining was observed within the disc deformed by osteophytes. In the other type, limited staining was observed on the severely hypertrophic synovial membrane.
These findings suggest that MMP-3 is distributed in the destructed TMJ disc and synovial membrane.