Comparison of NF-κB, Heat Shock Proteins, and Galectin-10 Expression in Cleft-Affected Hard Tissues Between Different Facial Sides

Cleft lip palate (CLP) develops during embryogenesis between weeks four to 12. Osteoplastic surgery is required to facilitate normal teeth eruption and jaw relation. It is important to determine whether the surrounding tissue and bone exhibit active inflammatory factors which can be significant in CLP morphogenesis. The objectives of this study were 1) to assess the distribution and expression of side-specific nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) p65 and p105, heat shock proteins (HSP) 60 and 70, and Galectin-10, and 2) to identify significant associations between these factors. Patient material was obtained during osteoplastic surgery from 12 patients with six samples collected from both the right and the left side of CLP. Control material consisted of five samples. Immunohistochemistry, light microscopy and a semi-quantitative method (ranging from 0 to +++) were used to analyse the slides. The Mann–Whitney U test and Spearman’s rank correlation were used for statistical analysis. Nearly equal expression of NF-κB p65 and p105-positive cells was observed on both sides of the CLP and controls. HSP60 expression was reduced on the left facial side. For right-side tissue, the Spearman’s ρ test showed significant correlation in bone between: NF-κB65 and NF-κB105 (p = 0.005); NF- κB65 and HSP60 (p = 0.003); NF-κB65 and HSP70 (p = 0.005); NF-κB105 and HSP60 (p < 0.014); NF-κB105 and HSP70 (p = 0.005); HSP60 and HSP70 (p = 0.005). Cleft-affected tissue possibly showed side-specific inflammatory changes with increased NF-κB65 and reduced HSP60 on the left side, while Galectin-10 expression was comparable to the level in controls suggesting that it not a cleft-specific factor.