PTEN and α-SMA Expression and Diagnostic Role in Oral Submucous Fibrosis and Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma with Concomitant Oral Submucous Fibrosis

Umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomal Follistatin inhibits fibrosis and promotes muscle regeneration in mice by influencing Smad2 and AKT signaling

BACKGROUND

Promoting muscle regeneration through stem cell therapy has potential risks. We investigated the effect of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UMSCs) Exosomes (Exo) Follistatin on muscle regeneration.

METHODS

The Exo was derived from UMSCs cells and was utilized to affect the mice muscle injury model and C2C12 cells myotubes atrophy model. The western blot, qRT-PCR and IF were utilized to determine the effects of Exo on the levels of Follistatin, MyHC, MyoD, Myostatin, MuRF1, MAFbx, α-SMA, Collagen I, Smad2, and AKT. In addition, HE and Masson staining were used to assess muscle tissue damage in mice.

RESULTS

The level of Follistatin in Exo was significantly higher than that in UMSCs. UMSCs-Exo increased the levels of Follistatin, MyHC, MyoD, and p-Smad2 and decreased the levels of Myostatin, MuRF1, MAFbx, α-SMA, Collagen I, p-AKT, and p-mTOR in mice or C2C12 cells. In addition, UMSCs-Exo decreased levels of inflammation and fibrosis in mice. However, UMSCs-Exo-si-Follistatin reversed the effect of UMSCs-Exo. Transfection of oe-Smad2 up-regulated the protein levels of Collagen I, α-SMA, and changed the ratio of p-Smad2/Smad2 expression to 0.33, and 0.34, 0.73. LY294002 decreased the levels of MyHC, MyoD, and the ratio of p-AKT/ AKT and p-mTOR/mTOR expression to 0.12, 0.17, 0.33, and 0.41, increased the levels of MuRF1 and MAFbx to 0.36 and 0.34.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated that Follistatin in UMSCs-Exo inhibits fibrosis and promotes muscle regeneration in mice by regulating Smad and AKT signaling.

Immuno-histochemical evaluation of CD34 for OLP and OSMF

Immuno-histochemical evaluation of CD34 in oral lichen planus (OLP) and Oral Submucous Fibrosis (OSMF) is of interest to dentist.20 specimens of normal oral mucosa (buccal mucosa/gingiva tissue) from patients who had extractions performed as part of orthodontic treatment comprised Group I, the control group. Group II comprised 30 individuals with a diagnosis of oral lichen planus. 30 OSMF cases with diagnoses is Group III. These 80 specimens were all given consideration when choosing for CD34immuno-histochemical staining. The CD34 was greater in all categories of OLP and OSMF when compared to normal controls. Maximum CD34 expression was observed in erosive OLP (147.41±17.60) followed by OSMF (116.01 ±11.72) and reticular OLP (105.01±11.62). Data was statistically significant (p<0.001).Immunohistochemistry of CD34 evaluation is a potential diagnostic marker for OLP and OSMF.

Comparison of Immunohistochemical Markers in Oral Submucous Fibrosis and Oral Submucous Fibrosis Transformed to Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The objective of the study was to compare the expression of immunohistochemical (IHC) markers of oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) (non-transformed group) to those of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) transformed from OSMF (transformed group). The search for comparative cross-sectional studies was carried out in PubMed and Scopus abiding to the PICO criteria, where expression of IHC markers in OSMF were compared with that of OSCC transformed from OSMF. The cellular distribution, number of positive cases, staining intensity, and mean immunoreactive score (IRS) of each IHC marker were evaluated in both groups. A total of 14 studies were included in the systematic review, in which immunoexpression of 15 epithelial and 4 connective tissue biomarkers were evaluated. Expression of β1-integrin, OCT-3, CD1a, CD207, survivin, Dickkopf-1, COX-2, hTERT, CTGF, MDM2, Ki-67, and α-SMA were increased during transformation of OSMF to OSCC. Conversely, expression of PTEN and lysyl oxidase decreased during transformation of OSMF to OSCC. Expression of a group of epithelial markers, such as COX2, hTERT, CTGF, survivin, MDM2, and p53, was 38 times lower in the non-transformed group cases compared to transformed group cases (95% CI: 58% to 10%; p = 0.01; and I² = 90%). Meta-analysis of all markers involved in cell metabolism/apoptosis, which included β1-integrin along with the above markers also suggested 42 times lower expression in the non-transformed group as compared to the transformed group (95% CI: 58% to 10%; p = 0.01; and I² = 90%). Sub-group analyses on cytoplasmic and nuclear epithelial markers were inconclusive. Meta-analysis of connective tissue markers was also inconclusive. No publication bias was found. Instead of delving into numerous markers without a strong basis for their use, it is advisable to further study the markers identified in this study to explore their clinical utility.

Long Non-Coding RNAs in Oral Submucous Fibrosis: Their Functional Mechanisms and Recent Research Progress

Many studies have shown that most genomes are transcribed into non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), including microRNAs (miRs) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), which can affect different cell characteristics. LncRNAs are long heterologous RNAs that regulate gene expression and various signaling pathways during homeostasis and development. Studies have shown that a lncRNA is an important regulatory molecule that can be targeted to change the physiology and function of cells. Expression or dysfunction of lncRNAs is closely related to various genetic, autoimmune, and metabolic diseases. The importance of ncRNAs in oral submucosal fibrosis (OSF) has garnered much attention in recent years. However, most research has focused on miRs. The role of these molecules in OSF is incompletely understood. This review focuses on the emerging role and function of lncRNAs in OSF as novel regulators. Finally, the potential functional role of lncRNAs as biomarkers for OSF diagnosis is also described. LncRNAs are expected to become a new therapeutic target, but more research is needed to understand their biological functions more deeply.