Congenital cleft of the lip and palate in children: pathogenetical significance of matrix metalloproteinases

Abstract

There are presented data about the prevalence offormation of congenital cleft lip and palate (CCLP) - one of the most common birth defects of the maxillofacial region in children. According to WHO the occurrence of children born with CCLP in the world is 0,6-1,6 cases per 1,000 live births, and varies greatly from the region to region and ethnic group residing there. At the same time, in 63,1% of patients there were established chromosomal abnormalities, and in 36,9% - non-chromosomal syndromes. In Russia, every year there are occurred from 3,5 to 5 thousand children with such defects that requires the development of new methods ofprevention of these malformations. There are reported modern views on the pathogenetical and potent diagnostic significance of the evaluation of the content of tissue matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their inhibitors in mechanisms of the formation of CCLP, shown the probable associations of changes in the expression or activity of MMP and TIMP with various forms of malformations of the palate and upper jaw.