Immunoexpression of alpha smooth muscle actin correlates with serum transforming growth factor‐β1 levels in oral submucous fibrosis

Abstract

Aim The aim of the present study was to correlate the immunoexpression of alpha‐smooth muscle actin (α‐SMA) for myofibroblasts with the serum levels of transforming growth factor‐β1 (TGF‐β1) in oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF). Methods A total of 100 cases of histopathologically confirmed OSMF were assessed for α‐SMA expression. Clinical data, such as age, sex, mouth opening, and habit history, were obtained for each case. Serum TGF‐β1 levels were recorded in 73 patients with the help of enzymelinked immunosorbent assay technique. Results The staining index of α‐SMA increased concomitantly with higher myofibroblast count in the increasing histopathological grades of OSMF (P ≤ .05). Serum TGF‐β1 levels were highest in the intermediate grades of OSMF. Clinical parameters, such as mouth opening, cheek flexibility, and tongue protrusion, showed a direct correlation with increasing clinical grades of OSMF. Conclusions The progressive increase in myofibroblasts from early to advanced stages suggests their potential use as markers for evaluating the severity of OSMF. Additionally, as myofibroblasts are responsible for producing a variety of factors that are involved in the fibrotic processes; they could be the key link in the pathogenesis of OSMF. Interruption of their development, recruitment, or activation could provide a unique therapeutic target for future treatment options in patients with OSMF.

Computational analysis of phytocompounds in Centella asiatica for its antifibrotic and drug-likeness properties - Herb to drug study

“… S.No. Protein Name Abbreviation Source for disease target 1 Actin, aortic smooth muscle ACTA2 [ [52] , [53] , [54] , [55] , [56] , [57] , [58] , [59] , [60] , [61] , [62] , [63] ] 2 Serine/threonine protein kinase Akt [ 58 , 64 ] 3 Apolipoprotein-A APOA [ 65 ] 4 Androgen receptor AR [ 66 ] 5 Bone morphogenetic protein-7 BMP7 [ 66 ] 6 Carbonic anhydrase-9 CA9 [ 66 ] 7 Capsase-3 CASP3 [ 67 ] 8 Caspase-8 CASP8 [ 66 ] 9 E-cadherin CDH1 [ 58 , [...…”

Formulation of in-Vivo Experimental Model of Oral Submucous Fibrosis in Wistar Rat

“…(20) It is well established that inflammatory cytokine TGF-β1 has a major role in pathogenesis of OSMF and the level of TGF-β1 is elevated in OSMF when compared to control. (21) Interferon-ϒ (IFN-ϒ) is downregulated in pathological fibrosis due to which levels of TGF-β1 increased. (22) We speculate that administration of bleomycin might have led to activation of TGF-β1 culminating in fibrosis as TGF-β1 is implicated in the development of fibrosis from previous studies conducted on human OSMF and is the main reason for increased collagen production and decreased collagen degradation.…”

Antifibrotic Effect of Baicalin on Arecoline Induced Human Oral Fibroblast: An In-Vitro Study

“…Tissue Fibrosis and hyalinization are the most fundamental clinic pathological features of OSMF, which prominently affect the patients’ quality of life. Myofibroblast and the regular expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) are reflected as signs of advanced fibrosis and are said to cause the alteration of OSMF microenvironment, leading to tumorigenesis [ 2 ]. Potentially malignant diseases are the term used to describe these warning lesions (PMD).…”