Evaluation of immuno-expression of galectin-3 in oral submucous fibrosis and healthy oral mucosa.

BACKGROUND

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is a potentially premalignant disorder involving oral mucosa presented with 7-13% rate of malignant transformation. Galectin-3 is a chimeric protein presented in the human body which plays an important role in certain physiologic conditions as well as pathologic conditions.

AIM: This study aims to assess the impact of Gal-3 on connective tissue remodelling in both normal oral mucosa and OSMF.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

The study sample included 40 individuals who visited the outpatient department of Manubhai Patel Dental College and a private dental clinic. The study samples were divided into two groups: Group I consisted of 20 patients with clinically diagnosed OSMF, and group II consisted of 20 patients with healthy oral mucosa. A punch biopsy was conducted to obtain the mucosal tissue from the appropriate site in each case of group 1. Tissues from healthy buccal mucosa were obtained during minor oral surgical procedures in group 2 cases. The statistical analysis was conducted using the SPSS software, version 20.0, developed by IBM in USA.

RESULTS

Based on the examination done according to TFM staging system, most of the cases belonged to stage 3. The majority of the OSMF cases were belonging to the grade III OSMF. Gal-3 immunoreactivity in epithelial cells in OSMF and in normal oral mucosa (NOM) was observed as membranous and cytoplasmic expression.

CONCLUSION

The immuno-expression of Gal-3 was observed to be significantly elevated in the connective tissue near the epithelium in OSMF when compared to NOM.