The Expression And Significance Of UPARAP In The Oral Submucous Fibrosis

Objectives:This study is aiming at investigating the intracellular degradation of collagen in the oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) by analysis of the expression and distribution of uPARAP and MMP-14in the OSF’s tissue.Methods:The immunohistochemistry was used for analysis the expression and distribution of the uPARAP and the MMP-14in the60case of the initial stage, middle and advanced stage of OSF, and detecting the expression of uPARAP in the ulcer tissue of OSF with the10case of normal tissue of OSF.Results:The uPARAP mainly expressesed in the mesenchymal cell of lamina propria in the healthy oral mucosa, particularly in the cells of papilla of lamina propriaThe uPARAP expression was inhibited significantly in the different stage of OSF and the degree of the inhibition gradually increase with development of the disease. On the contrary, in the ulcer tissue of OSF, the uPARAP was obviously overexpressed in the macrophage in the foci of inflammation and the spindle-shape cells (fibroblasts) that clustered around the border of the ulcers.There was no significant change in expression of MMP14protein in the different stage of the OSF compared with the healthy oral mucosa. Conclusions:1. The uPARAP expression was inhibited significantly in different stage of OSF, It is suggested that the deregulation of intracellular collagen degradation may be involved in the pathological mechanism of OSF.2. In the initial stage of OSF, the downregulation of uPARAP was first happened in the area close to the basic layer of epithelia where the collagen may be accumulated earlier than in other sites.3. The uPARAP was obviously overexpressed in the ulcer tissue of OSF, It means that the inhibition of uPARAP expression can be reversed by local factors.4. There is no significant change in expression of MMP14protein in the different stage of the OSF compared with the healthy oral mucosa.