The Effects of Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells -Derived Exosomes in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (In vitro Study)

OBJECTIVE

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived exosomes offers several advantages as a cell-free therapeutic agents. In this study, Umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells exosomes (UC-MSCs-exos) effects on oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cell line was evaluated.

METHODS

UC-MSCs-exos were isolated and co-cultured with OSCC cells and their impact on OSCC was explored by various tests. Comet assay and western blot for cleaved caspase-3 and immunocytochemistry for caspase-8 were used for apoptosis assessment. HO-1 and Nrf2 were used to determine antioxidant levels. Tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 were assessed as inflammatory biomarkers. HOX transcript antisense intergenic long noncoding RNA (HOTAIR) expression was also evaluated.

RESULTS

In a dose-dependent manner, UC-MSCs-exos reduced the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-α) and induced apoptosis of OSCC in vitro. Meanwhile, we found that UC-MSCs-exos downregulate HOTAIR.

CONCLUSION

UC-MSCs-exos conferred a suppressive role on OSCC in vitro, highlighting a promising therapeutic role. However, the exact potentially involved molecules and molecular mechanisms need to be investigated in further studies.

Ultrasonographic evaluation of the masseter muscle in temporomandibular disorders patients with myofascial pain: A case-control observational study

OBJECTIVE

To investigate ultrasonographic changes of masseter muscle (MM) in patients with myofascial pain disorder (MPD) and possible correlations with clinical features.

METHODS

The study included 20 MPD patients and 20 healthy volunteers. Masseter muscle thickness (MMT) and the echogenic pattern were ultrasonographically evaluated. The maximum interincisal opening (MIO), duration of symptoms, and pain level were evaluated for correlations with MMT.

RESULTS

At relaxation, MMT was greater in the test group (p < 0.05); however, the percentage of increase in MMT from relaxation to contraction was greater in controls (p < 0.05). In MPD patients, the echogenic pattern differed significantly from controls. In MPD patients, a strong positive correlation was found between MMT and pain level, while a moderate negative correlation was found between MMT and both the duration of symptoms and MIO.

CONCLUSION

Ultrasound is an adjunctive method for complementing the assessment of the MM condition in MPD patients.

Expression of Mucin1 in saliva in oral squamous cell carcinoma and oral potentially malignant disorders (case control study)

OBJECTIVES

Overexpression of mucin1 is found in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma tissues compared with adjacent non-neoplastic tissues and higher levels are associated with metastasis and invasion. The expression level of mucin1 in saliva of normal individuals, oral potentially malignant disorders and oral squamous cell carcinoma patients and its correlation to clinical and histological variables was evaluated.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Forty oral potentially malignant disorders, 40 oral squamous cell carcinoma subjects, and 20 age matched-controls were included. Stimulated salivary samples were collected from all participants, and mucin1 expression was measured by real-time PCR.

RESULTS

Mucin1 expression in saliva was significantly elevated in oral potentially malignant disorders when compared with controls. Similarly, mucin1 expression was significantly elevated in oral squamous cell carcinoma group when compared with oral potentially malignant disorders and controls. Mucin1 expression in OSCC patient showed significant positive correlations with T classification and distant Metastasis. Mucin1 expression in oral potentially malignant disorders patients showed significant positive correlations with degree of dysplasia.

CONCLUSIONS

The expression level of mucin1 in saliva might be a potential biomarker for diagnosing oral potentially malignant disorders and oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Platelet-Rich Fibrin for the Treatment of Intrabony Periodontal Defects in Patients with Generalized Aggressive Periodontitis: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Study

OBJECTIVE

Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) is a fibrin matrix in which platelet cytokines, growth factors and cells are embedded; therefore, it has the potential to be used as regenerative therapy. The aim of this randomized clinical study was to evaluate the regenerative capacity of PRF when compared to collagen membrane (CM) for the treatment of intrabony periodontal defects in patients with generalized aggressive periodontitis (GAgP).

METHODS

Using a split-mouth design, sixteen GAgP patients with paired contralateral intrabony defects were randomly assigned to the test group (composite bone graft {autogenous bone mixed with xenograft} + PRF, n = 16 sites) and control group (composite bone graft + CM, n = 16 sites). Plaque index, papillary bleeding index, probing pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment level (CAL) and position of gingival margin (GML) were recorded prior to surgery and 6 months after surgery. The percentage of defect resolution (DR) was calculated radiographically at 6 months after surgery by intraoral periapical radiographs. Primary study outcome was change in CAL.

RESULTS

Six-month results indicated that both treatment modalities resulted in a significant reduction in PPD, gain in CAL, and DR (p < 0.05). A statistically significant improvement in GML was recorded for the test group (p < 0.05) but not for the control. Intergroup comparison was insignificant for all parameters (p > 0.05) except for GML (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Platelet-rich fibrin has shown favorable results that are comparable to CM for treatment of intrabony periodontal defects in patients with GAgP. However, better results concerning GML have been reported when PRF was used.