Comparison of expression of myofibroblasts in normal oral mucosa, oral epithelial dysplasia, and oral squamous cell carcinoma using α-SMA and vimentin: An immunohistochemical study

Amani Mahajan; Andleeb Manhas; Tania Aneja; Swati Parhar; Priyanka Kumari; Anubhuti; Harkanwal P Singh

doi:10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_172_20

Comparison of expression of myofibroblasts in normal oral mucosa, oral epithelial dysplasia, and oral squamous cell carcinoma using α-SMA and vimentin: An immunohistochemical study

J Family Med Prim Care. 2020 Aug 25;9(8):4368-4374. doi: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_172_20. eCollection 2020 Aug.

Authors

Amani Mahajan¹, Andleeb Manhas¹, Tania Aneja², Swati Parhar¹, Priyanka Kumari³, Anubhuti⁴, Harkanwal P Singh⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Swami Devi Dyal Hospital and Dental College, Golpura, Barwala, Panchkula, Haryana, India.
² Department of Medical, Health and Family Welfare, Uttarakhand, India.
³ Department of Public Health Dentistry, Dental Institute, RIMS, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India.
⁴ Department of Conservative, Endodontics and Aesthetic Dentistry, Dental Institute, RIMS, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India.
⁵ Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Dasmesh Institute of Research and Dental Sciences, Faridkot, Punjab, India.

Abstract

Background: Myofibroblasts are thought to play critical roles in inflammation, growth, repair, premalignancy, and malignancy. This study was done to evaluate, compare and co- relate the progressive increase in the immunohistochemical expression of myofibroblasts in normal oral mucosa, epithelial dysplasia, and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). To compare and co-relate the expression of myofibroblasts in normal oral mucosa, epithelial dysplasia, and oral squamous cell carcinoma. To co-relate the progressive increase in myofibroblasts expression in normal oral mucosa, epithelial dysplasia, and oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Materials and method: Forty-nine paraffin-embedded tissue blocks with 7 cases of normal oral mucosa, 21 cases of epithelial dysplasia, and 21 diagnosed cases of OSCCs were studied. The samples were subjected to heat-induced antigen retrieval methods followed by staining using primary mouse monoclonal antibodies against α-smooth muscle actin (SMA) and vimentin. Staining index of all the sections was calculated. Statistical analysis was performed using the Kruskal-Wallis test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Chi-square test. Values of P less than or equal to 0.05 (P ≤ 0.05) were considered statistically significant.

Results: Statistically significant staining index was obtained by α-SMA and vimentin between normal oral mucosa, epithelial dysplasia, and OSCC.

Conclusion: Myofibroblast may play a role only during initial tumorigenesis that is the conversion of severe dysplasia into OSCC.

Keywords: immunohistochemistry; myofibroblasts; vimentin; α-SMA.