Elsevier

Cytokine

Volume 10, Issue 9, September 1998, Pages 713-719
Cytokine

Regular article
IMMUNOLOCALIZATION OF CYTOKINES AND GROWTH FACTORS IN ORAL SUBMUCOUS FIBROSIS

https://doi.org/10.1006/cyto.1997.0342Get rights and content

Abstract

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is a chronic fibrotic disease of the oral cavity and oropharynx characterized by fibroelastic change in the mucosa which leads to progressive inability to open the mouth. The inflammatory cells in the lesional tissue consist mainly of T lymphocytes, with a high CD4:CD8 ratio, and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II expressing antigen-presenting cells. Cytokines and growth factors produced by inflammatory cells within the lesion may promote fibrosis by inducing proliferation of fibroblasts, upregulating collagen synthesis and downregulating collagenase production. The authors used a three-stage immunoperoxidase technique to investigate the expression of interleukin α (IL-1α) and β, IL-6 interferon (IFN)-α, β and γ, transforming growth factor β (TGF-β), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in frozen sections of OSF and compared it with that in normal buccal mucosa. The expression of cytokines and growth factors in normal tissues was consistent with their well known distribution and cell of origin, but the intensity and distribution in OSF were all, with the exception of IFN-α and γ, upregulated with strong expression in both the epithelium and underlying connective tissue. IFN-α showed a similar pattern of staining in both normal mucosa and OSF. IFN-γ showed little or no expression in most lesional tissues, suggesting an innate deficiency or downregulation of this cytokine. The general increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines and growth factors, and reduced production of IFN-γ, may play an important role in the pathogenesis of OSF.

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Correspondence to: Sajeda Meghji, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Eastman Dental Institute. 256 Gray's Inn Road, London WCIX 8LD, UK

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