The expression of cox- 2 and tgf β in oral submucous fibrosis

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is a chronic disease affecting the oral cavity and is associated with inflammation and fibrosis. The major aetiological factor is arecanut. Pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic cytokines such as cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) respectively are stimulated by the alkaloids present in arecanut and probably have a major role in the pathogenesis of OSMF. The present study was aimed to evaluate their presence in different clinical stages and histopathologic grades of OSMF. The location, intensity and pattern and distribution of TGF-β and COX-2 in various grades of OSMF were also evaluated. In this study, biopsy samples of 35 selected OSMF subjects were analysed for the expression of COX-2 and TGF-β using immunohistochemical methods. A high expression of COX-2 was noted in the early stages and grades of OSMF and there was a gradual decrease with advancement in the stages and grades. A progressive increase in the expression of TGF-β was noted with the advancement of histologic grades. But no set pattern of TGF-β expression was noted with respect to clinical staging of OSMF. In the present study, a variation in the expression of COX-2 and TGF-β in different stages and grades of OSMF was noted which shows that these cytokines may play a contributory role in the pathogenesis of OSMF.