Extracellular matrix behaviour in masseter muscle of patients affected by unilateral posterior crossbite: An immunofluorescence study

first_pagesettingsOrder Article Reprints Open AccessArticle Extracellular Matrix Behaviour in Masseter Muscle of Patients Affected by Unilateral Posterior Crossbite: An Immunofluorescence Study by Giovanna Vermiglio 1ORCID,Antonio Centofanti 1,*ORCID,Maria Grazia Piancino 2,Maria Chiara Malandrino 3,Michele Runci Anastasi 4,Giacomo Picciolo 1 andGiuseppina Cutroneo 1 1 Department of Biomedical and Dental Science and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, 98100 Messina, Italy 2 Department of Surgical Sciences, Dental School, Orthodontics, University of Turin, 10125 Turin, Italy 3 School of Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Turin, 10125 Turin, Italy 4 I.R.C.C.S (Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico) Centro Neurolesi “Bonino-Pulejo”, 98100 Messina, Italy * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(10), 4649; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11104649 Submission received: 30 April 2021 / Revised: 13 May 2021 / Accepted: 14 May 2021 / Published: 19 May 2021 (This article belongs to the Special Issue Immunohistochemical Expression Volume II) Downloadkeyboard_arrow_down Browse Figures Versions Notes Abstract Unilateral posterior crossbite is a malocclusion disease that involves morpho-functional characteristics of masseter muscle; a normal or increased activity of contralateral muscle and a reduced activity of the ipsilateral muscle during unilateral crossbite have been shown. Since the extracellular matrix plays a key role in in mechano-transduction of transmitting forces during muscle contraction, the aim of the present study was to analyse the behaviour of extracellular matrix in this type of malocclusion through immunofluorescence reactions against laminin, collagen IV, MMP-2 and MMP-9. Our results show an increased expression of Laminin, Collagen IV, and MMP-9 in the contralateral side if compared to the ipsilateral side. No differences have been found in MMP-2 expression between contralateral and ipsilateral muscles. Since the increased expression of Laminin, Collagen IV and MMP-9 is associated with muscle hypertrophy and MMP-2 is associated with muscle atrophy, our results support the existence of a hypertrophic response of contralateral muscle during unilateral posterior crossbite that probably aims to compensate the altered function of the ipsilateral one.