Evaluation of myofibroblasts in oral submucous fibrosis: correlation with disease severity

Abstract

Our results corroborate the possibility that OSMF actually represents an abnormal healing process in response to chronic mechanical and chemical irritation because of areca nut chewing as demonstrated by the increased incidence of myofibroblasts in this disease. Furthermore, the progressive increase in myofibroblasts from early to advanced stages suggests their potential use as markers for evaluating the severity of OSMF.

Dynamic role of myofibroblasts in oral lesions

“…The cellular mediator responsible for fibrosis is MF, which serves as collagenproducing cells when activated [31] . Continuous MF presence stimulates an abnormal repair mechanism, leading to excessive contraction and ECM secretion, subsequently causing fibrosis [30] . It was proposed that in fibrosis, MFs acquire an immune-privileged cell phenotype, which helps them to evade apoptosis and allows their uninterrupted accumulation [31] .…”

“…OSMF is an abnormal healing process in response to the chronic mechanical and chemical irritation caused by chewing areca nuts [30] . The cellular mediator responsible for fibrosis is MF, which serves as collagenproducing cells when activated [31] .…”

Bone mesenchymal stem cells differentiate into myofibroblasts in the tumor microenvironment

“…Myofibroblasts were first identified in granulation tissue by Gabbiani and Majno (20) in 1972, and have been subsequently observed in a wide range of normal and abnormal tissues (21,22). Prior to the study by Gabbiani and Majno, there had not been an exact definition of myofibroblasts, as their appearance and function was not invariable within different tissues.…”

Dentoalveolar Surgery in Oral Submucous Fibrosis: Need for Caution

“…Tearing or shredding of flap, lingual gingiva, pterygomandibular raphe must be avoided. The wound healing mechanism of oral mucosa is faulty resulting in scarring and fibrosis [4]. Intra-alveolar extraction or 'simple' extraction of tooth also has to be performed with special care.…”

“…There is poor microcirculation in affected tissue, hypercoagulability of blood and medical treatment for this condition is not standardized [3]. It has been suggested that OSMF represents an abnormal healing process to chronic irritation [4].…”