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Objectives We set out to reprogram adult somatic oral epithelial keratinocytes into pluripotent cells for regenerative dentistry. Setting and sample population Immortalized murine oral keratinocyte cell (IMOK) line raised from adult mouse mucosa were cultured in vitro in our studies. Materials and methods Adult murine oral epithelial keratinocytes were chronically treated with TGF-β1 in vitro, and the expression of Oct4, Nanog, Sox2 and Nestin, as well as specific homeobox Gata and Pax gene family members were investigated. Results We documented the induction of stem factors linked with pluripotency and/or the maintenance and regulation of stem-cell self-renewal in oral epithelial keratinocytes by TGFβ1. Moreover, we discovered that this TGF-β1-induced increase in Oct4, Nanog, Sox2 and Nestin was inhibited by SB431542, suggesting that TGF-β1 signals via the TGF-βRI receptor to induce pluripotency and stemness. Conclusions Adult oral epithelial keratinocytes treated chronically with TGF-β1 acquired phenotypic characteristics consistent with pluripotent stem cells, highlighting the facileness of reprogramming adult oral keratinocytes into an unlimited supply of pluripotent stem cells.

Rete ridges play a critical role in maintaining epidermal structure and mechanical properties. Notably, rete ridges can be divided into three compartments: the base, slope, and tip. The present study aims to explore whether these three compartments have distinct adhesive functions. We collected 28 normal masticatory mucosae to prepare paraffin-embedded sections. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescent staining were used to analyze the expression pattern of integrin α6 and β4 in different compartments of the rete ridges. To observe whether the different compartments had distinct adhesive forces, dermal-epidermal junction separation experiments were performed by peeling the oral epithelium from the lamina propria after treatment with cold saline for 72 h. The results showed that integrin α6 and β4 prefer the basal layer keratinocytes closely adjacent to the base compartment of the rete ridges. The oral mucosal epithelium separated from the underlying lamina propria at the tip of rete ridges when they were peeled after the cold saline treatment. In conclusion, the adhesive force of the basal layer keratinocytes at the base of the rete ridges is stronger than at the tip.

Мета дослідження: вивчити показники цитокінового профілю в епітелії ротової порожнини дітей із цукровим діабетом (ЦД) 1-го типу з урахуванням наявних метаболічних порушень. Матеріали та методи. Обстежено 12-річних дітей, хворих на ЦД 1-го типу (30 осіб), а також 30 соматично здорових дітей з ознаками хронічного катарального гінгівіту. Також було сформовано групу порівняння (30 соматично та стоматологічно здорових дітей того ж віку). Установлено рівні показників мРНК ІЛ-1β, -10 та -17А епітелію ротової порожнини дітей з ознаками хронічного катарального гінгівіту за наявності ЦД. Результати. Проведене молекулярно-генетичне дослідження відносного рівня мРНК прозапальних цитокінів ІЛ-1β і -17А, протизапального ІЛ-10 в епітелії ротової порожнини дітей показало, що на тлі ЦД суттєво збільшені відносні рівні мРНК ІЛ-1β і -17А та низький рівень експресії мРНК ІЛ-10. Переважання рівня прозапальних цитокінів у букальному епітелії над рівнем протизапальних відображає дисбаланс у системі цитокінової регуляції в дітей І та ІІ груп. Висновки. Проведені дослідження мають велике значення для діагностики запальних процесів у тканинах пародонта і стану локального імунітету ротової порожнини, а також є підґрунтям для розробки лікувально-профілактичних програм для дітей, хворих на ЦД 1-го типу.

Aim: To assess the effectiveness of alginate-containing biogel as a health prevention agent for employees of test laboratories with chemical and biological occupational hazards. Methods: An experimental non-controlled study. The sample consisted of 43 healthy non-smoking volunteers aged 24-75 years who were examined before and after taking 30 gram of the food supplement «Laminal (biogel from algae)» during 4 weeks. Cells in smears of buccal epithelium stained with alizarin red C, used fluorescence microscopy were studied. We assessed cells differentiation degrees, cytochemical coefficients and quantified structural features of the nuclei and cytoplasm. Results: We observed stabilization of the cellular elements of buccal epithelium after the use of Laminal with no cytotoxic effects. The number of pathological epithelial cells significantly decreased (p < 0.001). The number of cells with signs of keratinization also decreased over the study period (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The studied food supplement "Laminal (seaweed biogel)" has a potential to mitigate occupational hazards on the oral epithelium among laboratory workers.

According to the World Health Organization, corneal blindness is the fourth most common cause of blindness and visual impairment worldwide. In Russia, up to 18% of blindness is caused by corneal damage. Limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) is one of the causes of corneal blindness and visual impairment due to anterior epithelial replacement with fibrovascular pannus. Bilateral LSCD may develop in patients with aniridia, Steven-Jones syndrome, and severe corneal burns of both eyes, leading to severe decrease in visual acuity in both eyes and, as a consequence, physical disability associated with blindness. In such cases, cell therapy, based on autologous oral epithelial culture as an alternative to allogeneic limbus transplants, is proposed for reconstruction of the anterior corneal epithelium. This new treatment method promotes corneal reepithelization, better visual acuity, reduced nonspecific ocular complaints and improved quality of life of patients. The effectiveness and significant increase in the frequency of transparent engraftment of donor corneas after cell therapy drives huge interest in this topic all over the world. This review presents literature data on the features of histotopography and methods for obtaining a cultured autologous oral mucosal epithelium, on cell markers that are used to identify epithelial cells, and on methods for creating cell grafts for subsequent transplantation to the corneal surface in LSCD patients.

The aim of this work was to analyse the behaviour of the dental lamina during the development process of first molar teeth. The offspring of female mice were analysed at the 16th day of intra-uterine life and since birth till 17 days old with the aim to evaluate the dental lamina evolution of upper and lower first molars. The animals were sacrificed, and the heads embedded in paraffin in order to get frontal or sagittal sections whose were stained by hematoxylin and eosin method. The results showed a very clear presence of the dental lamina in all periods under analysis, without the occurrence of its disorganization, in other words, it was permanently connecting the developing tooth germ to the oral epithelium until advanced dental eruption.

Aim: The aim of the present study is to analyze the role of GLUT-1 in detection of early alterations occurring in oral leukoplakia. This study was to evaluate the expression of GLUT-1 in normal oral epithelium, the expression of GLUT-1 levels in the tissue samples of oral leukoplakia and to statistically compare the expression of GLUT-1 in normal epithelium and oral leukoplakia. Materials and Methods: The study sample comprised formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissue specimens from 23 cases of histopathologically diagnosed oral leukoplakia and formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue specimens from 10 cases of normal oral mucosa. Sections were mounted on glass slide coated with Aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APES; Sigma chemical co., USA) and processed for subsequent immunohistochemical study to demonstrate GLUT-1. Results: GLUT-1 expression in normal oral mucosa revealed weak positivity in all 10 cases (100%). The oral leukoplakia cases showed immunopositivity in all 23 cases (100%) of which 10 cases (39.14%) demonstrated focal positivity and 13 cases (60.86%) of diffuse positivity. The results were compared statistically using ANOVA test was significant at P = 0.002. Conclusion: The present study shows expression of GLUT-1 in leukoplakia may be used as a reliable marker to identify the high risk group for malignant transformation.

Radiographic examinations combined with clinical and histological tests play an important role in diagnosing changes in the craniofacial region. Considering that X-radiation is a form of ionizing energy capable of damaging the DNA of individuals, it has been the object of studies since its introduction. The micronucleus test is used to quantify this damage, assessing whether or not chromosomal breakage occurs. Objective: To evaluate, through a systematic review (SR) with meta-analysis, the occurrence of genotoxic effects in the oral epithelium after the exposure of patients to panoramic radiographs. Methods: An SR was performed with the PICOS (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, and Study design) strategy, aiming to answer the following question: “Can panoramic radiographs induce genotoxic effects on the oral epithelium?” The study was registered in the PROSPERO (International prospective register of systematic reviews) platform. A systematic search was performed in the following electronic databases: PubMed (including MedLine), Scopus, Embase, LILACS, Medline EbscoHost, and Google Scholar. Treatment effects were defined as standardized mean difference (SMD), and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were established. The Joanna Briggs Institute questionnaire for observational studies was applied to assess the risk of bias. The GRADE tool was used to assess the quality of evidence of the SR. Results: A total of 251 potentially relevant studies were selected through the search strategy. After screening titles and abstracts, 11 full-text manuscripts were assessed for eligibility and nine observational studies were included in the meta-analysis. The present study showed an increase in micronuclei after the exposure (SMD = 0.21, 95% CI, 0.03 to 0.28, p = 0.02), with a Tau2index = 0.00, Chi2 = 2.35, and p-value = 0.97. Therefore, the articles selected were considered homogeneous and the I² of 0% indicated low heterogeneity. Conclusion: According to the studies analysed, although the quality of evidence was considered low, panoramic radiographs can cause genotoxic damage in the oral epithelium but with a small effect size.

For years, most studies involving keratinocytes have been conducted using human and mouse skin epidermal keratinocytes. Recently, oral keratinocytes have attracted attention because of their unique function and characteristics. They maintain the homeostasis of the oral epithelium and serve as resources for applications in regenerative therapies. However, in vitro studies that use oral primary keratinocytes from adult mice have been limited due to the lack of an efficient and well-established culture protocol. Here, oral primary keratinocytes were isolated from the palate tissues of adult mice and cultured in a commercial low-calcium medium supplemented with a chelexed-serum. Under these conditions, keratinocytes were maintained in a proliferative or stem cell-like state, and their differentiation was inhibited even after increased passages. Marker expression analysis showed that the cultured oral keratinocytes expressed the basal cell markers p63, K14, and α6-integrin and were negative for the differentiation marker K13 and the fibroblast marker PDGFRα. This method produced viable and culturable cells suitable for downstream applications in the study of oral epithelial stem cell functions in vitro.

Background OCT is a non-invasive imaging technique that enables the measurement of epithelial thickness and architectural changes, which can help in the diagnosis of pre-cancerous and cancerous lesions. The purpose of the study was to assess whether epithelial tissue thickness improves optical coherence tomography’s ability in detecting oral cancer. Patients and methods Surgically resected oral margins from 60 patients diagnosed with oral squamous cell carcinoma were subjected to OCT. Three OCT measurements (immediate, 1 h and 24 h post-resection) were conducted per resected tissue specimen to look at the effect of saline and formalin on the specimen and its effect on the reproducibility of the OCT. OCT was, then, used to measure the epithelial tissue thickness in cancer-free and cancer-involved margins in eight oral anatomical locations. This data was, then, combined with architectural changes data to calculate the sensitivity and specificity. Results An overall of 189 cancer-free margins and 51 cancer-involved margins had their epithelial thickness measured using OCT and compared to histopathology. With regards to the validity of the OCT and histopathological measurements, epithelial thickness showed good correlation between different readings at all oral sites. With regards to the reproducibility of the OCT measurements, the mean epithelial thickness for all measurements at first (immediate) and second (1 h post-resection – saline preserved) measurements was not significantly different. Underestimation of the epithelial depth in cancer-free margins was 20 μm, while in the cancer-involved margins was 10 μm. Combining data from architectural changes and epithelial thickness, a sensitivity of 92% and a specificity of 94% was achieved. Conclusion Oral epithelium measurements using OCT were valid compared to those made with gold standard pathology. Measurements made using OCT was also reproducible with minor underestimation. Epithelial thickness, combined with architectural changes, led to high accuracy in differentiating between cancer-free and cancer-involved margins.

To investigate the mechanistic background of the muco-protective effect of systemic heparin treatment on the development of radiation-induced oral mucositis in mice.Fractionated irradiation was given to the snouts of male C3H/Neu mice over 2 weeks (10 × 3 Gy), either alone or in combination with daily subcutaneous application of unfractionated or low molecular weight heparin (40 or 200 I.U./mouse, respectively). Over this course of 14 days, groups of mice (n = 3) were sacrificed every second day, their tongues excised and processed for histological analysis. The epithelial radiation response with and without heparin treatment was evaluated in terms of tissue morphology, proliferation and expression of cell contact molecules.Systemic treatment with heparins significantly reduced the cellular effects of irradiation to the oral epithelium. Heparin treated animals showed significantly higher total epithelial cell numbers and thickness throughout the study course. Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation analyses revealed that markedly more epithelial cells retained their proliferative capacity in the beginning of the first treatment week, but the proliferation of the mucosa was not stimulated during the rest of the study course. The expression of the adherens junction protein β‑catenin was slightly elevated in heparin treated animals, on day 2 the increase was statistically significant. The expression of e‑cadherin and occludin was mostly unaffected by the concomitant heparin treatment.The findings of this study indicate an interplay of additional heparin treatment with the repopulation processes, leading to an earlier onset of this adaptive radiation response in oral mucosa. Importantly, we could demonstrate that the protective potential of heparin did not rely on stimulation of normal tissue proliferation. Since both heparin preparations are already approved for clinical use, they are considered as promising candidates for future clinical studies.ZIEL: Untersucht werden sollten die mechanistischen Hintergründe des protektiven Effekts einer systemischen Heparingabe auf die Ausprägung der radiogenen oralen Mukositis in der Maus.Fraktionierte Bestrahlung wurde auf die Schnauzen von männlichen C3H/Neu-Mäusen über 2 Wochen (10 × 3 Gy) appliziert, entweder allein oder in Kombination mit täglicher s.c. Gabe von unfraktioniertem bzw. niedermolekularem Heparin (40 bzw. 200 I.E./Maus). Über diese Zeit wurden jeden zweiten Tag Gruppen von Mäusen (n = 3) euthanasiert, ihre Zungen wurden entnommen und für die histologischen Untersuchungen aufbereitet. Die epitheliale Strahlenreaktion mit bzw. ohne Heparinbehandlung wurde hinsichtlich der Gewebemorphologie, der Proliferation und der Expression von Zellkontaktmolekülen untersucht.Eine systemische Heparingabe reduzierte signifikant den zellulären Effekt der Bestrahlung auf das orale Epithel. Über den ganzen Behandlungszeitraum hinweg wiesen mit Heparin behandelte Mäuse signifikant höhere Gesamtzellzahlen und Schichtdicken des Epithels auf. Bromdesoxyuridin(BrdU)-Inkorporationsstudien ergaben, dass deutlich mehr Epithelzellen ihre proliferative Kapazität während der ersten Behandlungswoche beibehalten hatten. Während der restlichen Behandlungszeit wurde keine zusätzliche Stimulation der Proliferation im Epithel beobachtet. Die Expression des Zellkontaktmoleküls β‑Catenin war infolge der Heparinbehandlung leicht erhöht, an Tag 2 konnte ein signifikanter Unterschied beobachtet werden. Die Expression von e‑Cadherin und Occludin wurde durch die begleitende Heparinbehandlung nicht beeinflusst.Die Ergebnisse dieser Studie deuten auf eine Interaktion der Heparingabe mit den Repopulierungsprozessen hin, was ein früheres Einsetzen dieser adaptiven Strahlenreaktion in der oralen Mukosa zur Folge hat. Zudem konnte gezeigt werden, dass der protektive Effekt der Heparingabe nicht auf der Stimulation der Proliferation im Normalgewebe basierte. Da beide Heparine bereits in der Klinik zugelassen sind, stellen sie geeignete Kandidaten für weiterführende klinische Studien dar.

Objective: The main aim of this study was to test whether the use of mouthwash is associated with subtypes of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) and to test the potential risk of SCCHN depending on the mouthwash use duration, frequency, or alcoholic content. Materials and methods: We performed a meta-analysis using Web of Science and Scopus databases to detect the risk change associated with mouthwash use depending on the alcohol content, duration and frequency of use, and anatomical location. We used a random-effects model with the Sidik–Jonkman estimator for effect size model measures. Results: We included 17 studies in the meta-analysis containing 17,085 cases and 20,032 controls. The risk difference for SCCHN between mouthwash users and non-users was minimal, with a value of −0.02 [−0.05, 0.01]. Alcoholic mouthwash use was associated with a minimal decrease in risk (of −0.01 [−0.07, 0.05]). Frequent usage of mouthwash was associated with a statistically significant risk increase for SCCHN but the risk increase was marginal (0.04, [0.01, 0.06]). Conclusions: Overall, our study failed to show a statistically significant correlation between mouthwash use and the risk of SCCHN. The only statistically significant correlation that we could identify was between frequent usage and SCCHN, potentially caused by prolonged contact between some constituents of mouthwash (possibly alcohol) and the oral epithelium.

Aim To evaluate the similarities and differences in barrier function of a peri-implant epithelium (PIE) versus a native junctional epithelium (JE). Materials and methods A mouse model was used wherein titanium implants were placed sub-occlusally in healed extraction sites. The PIE was examined at multiple timepoints after implant placement, to capture and understand the temporal nature of its assembly and homeostatic status. Mitotic activity, hemidesmosomal attachment apparatus, and inflammatory responses in the PIE were compared against a JE. Additionally, we evaluated whether the PIE developed a Wnt-responsive stem cell niche like a JE. Results The PIE developed from oral epithelium (OE) that had, by the time of implant placement, lost all characteristics of a JE. Compared with a JE, an established PIE had more proliferating cells, exhibited lower expression of attachment proteins, and had significantly more inflammatory cells in the underlying connective tissue. Wnt-responsive cells in the OE contributed to an initial PIE, but Wnt-responsive cells and their descendants were lost as the PIE matured. Conclusions Although histologically similar, the PIE lacked a Wnt-responsive stem cell niche and exhibited characteristics of a chronically inflamed tissue. Both features contributed to suboptimal barrier functions of the PIE compared with a native JE.

Head and neck cancer is a group of neoplastic diseases affecting the facial, oral, and neck region. It is one of the most common cancers worldwide with an aggressive, invasive evolution. Due to the heterogeneity of the tissues affected, it is particularly challenging to study the molecular mechanisms at the basis of these tumors, and to date we are still lacking accurate targets for prevention and therapy. The Notch signaling is involved in a variety of tumorigenic mechanisms, such as regulation of the tumor microenvironment, aberrant intercellular communication, and altered metabolism. Here, we provide an up-to-date review of the role of Notch in head and neck cancer and draw parallels with other types of solid tumors where the Notch pathway plays a crucial role in emergence, maintenance, and progression of the disease. We therefore give a perspective view on the importance of the pathway in neoplastic development in order to define future lines of research and novel therapeutic approaches.

Oral cancer is a major healthcare problem and accounts for approximately 40% of cancer risk. It is evident that the detection of oral cancer at an early stage can markedly improve the survival rate. Though several invasive ‘gold standard’ methods continue to be practiced clinically, non-invasive detection modalities look promising for early oral cancer risk assessment. Exfoliative cytology is one such method in which the desquamated cells are collected from the oral epithelium and examined under microscope. However, the main challenge in automated quantification arises here on the formation of cellular clump during the smear preparation. In this chapter, the role of computational advances in segmentation of overlapping cells is illustrated. A computational model, based on Voronoi-based hybrid active contour method, is proposed for segmenting the overlapping oral epithelial cells.

Oral mucosa is the target tissue for many microorganisms involved in periodontitis and other infectious diseases affecting the oral cavity. Three-dimensional (3D) in vitro and ex vivo oral mucosa equivalents have been used for oral disease modeling and investigation of the mechanisms of oral bacterial and fungal infections. This review was conducted to analyze different studies using 3D oral mucosa models for the evaluation of the interactions of different microorganisms with oral mucosa. In this study, based on our inclusion criteria, 43 articles were selected and analyzed. Different types of 3D oral mucosa models of bacterial and fungal infections were discussed in terms of the biological system used, culture conditions, method of infection, and the biological endpoints assessed in each study. The critical analysis revealed some contradictory reports in this field of research in the literature. Challenges in recovering bacteria from oral mucosa models were further discussed, suggesting possible future directions in microbiomics, including the use of oral mucosa-on-a-chip. The potential use of these 3D tissue models for the evaluation of the effects of antiseptic agents on bacteria and oral mucosa was also addressed. This review concluded that there were many aspects that would require optimization and standardization with regard to using oral mucosal models for infection by microorganisms. Using new technologies—such as microfluidics and bioreactors—could help to reproduce some of the physiologically relevant conditions and further simulate the clinical situation. IMPACT STATEMENT: Tissue-engineered or commercial models of the oral mucosa are very useful for the study of diseases that involve the interaction of microorganisms and oral epithelium. In this review, challenges in recovering bacteria from oral mucosa models, the potential use of these three-dimensional tissue models for the evaluation of the effects of antiseptic agents, and future directions in microbiomics are discussed.

Hormonal deficiencies may contribute to the development of abnormalities of oral and vaginal tissues, such as pain, desquamation, recurrent oral, vaginal ulceration and delayed post-surgical healing .This study was done to determine the differences of cell activity in oral and vaginal mucosa . A total of 200 females of different age groups were used in this study Oral smears were obtained from the buccal mucosa by scraping the area gently using a wooden tongue depressor while vaginal smears were obtained from the proximal portion of the lateral wall of the vagina using Ayre’s spatula by scraping the area gently . In order to find to change in mucosa during different phases of menstrual cycle . In two groups the present results revealed that vaginal cytological patterns of each group is similar to the oral cytological pattern with some differences . In conclusion significant correlation between the hormonal fluctuations in woman and the degree of maturation of their oral epithelium was revealed in this study .

Many studies, comparing the health associated risks of electronic cigarettes with conventional cigarettes, focus mainly on the common chemical compounds found between them. We therefore reviewed chemical compounds found exclusively in electronic cigarettes and describe their genotoxic and carcinogenic effects. The eligibility criteria included articles related exclusively to conventional and electronic cigarettes chemical composition. Articles which reported to be financed from cigarettes industries were excluded. Chemical compounds reported in the selected studies from conventional and electronic cigarettes were tabulated using the Chemical Abstracts Service registry number for chemical substances information. A total of 57 chemical compounds were exclusively reported to be present in electronic cigarettes. To further analyze e-cigarette carcinogenic effects, a gene set, previously reported to be deregulated in the oral epithelium of e-cigarettes users, was genomically analyzed in 32 PanCancer Atlas Studies. The crucial health risks identified were: eye, skin and respiratory tract irritation, with almost 50% of incidence. The main cancer risks associated with e-cigarettes were: ovarian, uterine, bladder, lung, esophageal and stomach carcinomas and adenocarcinomas. Despite being considered as less harmful for human health, the use of these devices is not recommended for first time users and it is considered hazardous for dual users.

Indexación: Scopus. Objective: To evaluate the extent of interstitial fibrosis in samples of normal oral mucosa (NOM), oral epithelial dysplasia (OED) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Materials and method: Descriptive study. Eighteen samples of NOM, 15 samples of OED, and 13 samples of OSCC were analyzed; all stained with Masson’s trichrome stain. The areas of greatest fibrosis underlying the normal, dysplastic, and malignant neoplastic oral epithelium were identified in order to determine the extent of interstitial fibrosis. Interstitial fibrosis was classified according to its proportion in the total image, being 0 (without fibrosis), +1 (1-25%), 2+ (26-50%), 3+ (51-75%) and +4 (76-100%). Variables were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis test and Dunn’s Pairwise post-hoc test. Results: The samples of NOM and OED did not present interstitial fibrosis (type 0) in the majority of the cases respectively. OSCC samples were characterized by an extension of type 2+ interstitial fibrosis in 45% of all cases of OSCC. The extent of interstitial fibrosis was different between NOM and OSCC (p

The oral mucosa, which is the lining tissue of the oral cavity, is a gateway to the body and it offers first-line protection against potential pathogens, exogenous chemicals, airborne allergens, etc. by means of its physical and microbiological-immune barrier functions. For this reason, oral mucosa is considered as a mirror to the health of the individual as well as a guard or early warning system. It is organized in two main components: a physical barrier, which consists of stratified epithelial cells and cell–cell junctions, and a microbiological-immune barrier that keeps the internal environment in a condition of homeostasis. Different factors, including microorganism, saliva, proteins and immune components, have been considered to play a critical role in disruption of oral epithelial barrier. Altered mucosal structure and barrier functions results in oral pathologies as well as systemic diseases. About 700 kinds of microorganisms exist in the human mouth, constituting the oral microbiota, which plays a significant role on the induction, training and function of the host immune system. The immune system maintains the symbiotic relationship of the host with this microbiota. Crosstalk between the oral microbiota and immune system includes various interactions in homeostasis and disease. In this review, after reviewing briefly the physical barriers of oral mucosa, the fundamentals of oral microbiome and oral mucosal immunity in regard to their barrier properties will be addressed. Furthermore, their importance in development of new diagnostic, prophylactic and therapeutic strategies for certain diseases as well as in the application for personalized medicine will be discussed.

Mochizuki and Fukui (Jpn J Ichthyol 30 () 27-36) studied the development and replacement of the upper jaw teeth in a Japanese fish species, Sicyopterus japonicus (Gobioidei: Sicydiinae), and they reported that worn-out functional teeth in the upper jaw were not shed outside the skin but were taken into the soft tissue of the upper jaw and completely resorbed there. To date, however, this phenomenon appears poorly documented. Furthermore, the mechanism for the resorption of these teeth remains to be determined. In this study, we examined this phenomenon by using 3D microcomputed tomography (m-CT), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and various techniques of light (LM) and electron (EM) microcopy. This study demonstrated that the upper jaw dentition of this fish was more or less simultaneously replaced with the replacement occurring during short time periods and that the lingual movement of the replacement teeth to the functional tooth position advanced simultaneously in a given row. Furthermore, our study also revealed that many worn-out functional teeth were engulfed by the oral epithelium, invaginated into the lingual shallow ditch of the premaxilla, and were resorbed/degraded completely by numerous foreign body giant cells rather than by odontoclasts during periods of at least three intervals of tooth replacement. The complete resorption/degradation of worn-out functional teeth in the soft tissue of the upper jaw suggests the possibility of the reuse of their components (minerals such as Ca and P, including Fe) for rapid and successional production of new replacement teeth in the upper jaw of adult S. japonicus. Anat Rec, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Anat Rec, 301:111-124, 2018. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Basal cell tumors (BCT) are tumors usually derived from pluripotential stem cell compartments of the basal layer of epidermis and/or oral epithelium. BCTs are infrequent entities in the oral cavity and are not discussed separately in general and oral pathology. A literature review did not reveal any classification of tumors with basaloid morphology. This paper is an attempt to categorize the oral neoplasms with basaloid morphology and discuss their differential diagnoses in detail. A review of the literature was carried out to rule out the frequency of different oral BCTs reported in the literature. Additionally, a simple working classification of oral BCTS has been proposed. We hope that this classification will be helpful for oral and general pathologists and students.

An important event in oral carcinogenesis is the amplification of chromosomal band 11q13, in which numerous oncogenes and some tumor-suppressor genes are localized and frequently co-amplified during the malignant transformation of oral epithelium. The objectives of this study were to review published data on the involvement of 11q13 amplification in oral cancer, to provide an update on novel concepts and terminology related to gene amplification, and to explore the composition of the 11q13 amplicon in OSCC, including its most relevant amplicon cores and potential drivers. We report on the critical oncogenes and tumor-suppressor genes in 11q13 that may play a major role in oral cancer, focusing on their functions, on the characteristics acquired by their amplification, and on their clinicopathological implications. Finally, we discuss the possible usefulness of the 11q13 region as a therapeutic target in oral cancer.

International audience; Oral candidiasis as a highly prevalent and recurrent infection in medically compromised individuals is mainly caused by the opportunistic fungal pathogen Candida albicans. This epithelial infection, if not controlled effectively, can progress to life-threatening systemic conditions and complications. The efficacy of current frontline antifungals is limited due to their poor bioavailability and systemic toxicity. As such, an efficient intervention is essential for controlling disease progression and recurrence. Herein, a theranostic nanoplatform (CD-Gu+-AmB) was developed to track the penetration of antifungals and perturb the invasion of C. albicans at oral epithelial tissues, via decorating the homemade red-emissive carbon dots (CD) with positively charged guanidine groups (Gu+) followed by conjugation with antifungal polyene (amphotericin B, AmB) in a reacting site-controllable manner. The generated CD-Gu+-AmB favorably gathered within the Candida cells and exhibited potent antifungal effects in both planktonic and biofilm forms. It selectively accumulated in the nuclei of human oral keratinocytes and exhibited undetectable toxicity to the host cells. Moreover, we reported for the first time the penetration and exfoliation profiles of CD in a three-dimensional organotypic model of human oral epithelial tissues, demonstrating that the extra- and intracellular accumulation of CD-Gu+-AmB effectively resisted the invasion of C. albicans by forming a "shielding" layer throughout the entire tissue. This study establishes a multifunctional CD-based theranostic nanoplatform functioning as a traceable and topically applied antifungal to arm oral epithelia, thereby shedding light on early intervention of mucosal candidiasis for oral and general health.

The purpose of the present study was to demonstrate the localization of transmembrane mucin MUC1 on the outer layer of oral mucosal cells and the involvement of apical cell surface microplicae (MPL) in bioadhesion of MUC1. Tissue samples of six healthy subjects were obtained. First, the presence of MUC1 was examined with an immunohistochemical method using a monoclonal MUC1 antigen called HFMG1. Second, the localization of MUC1 was examined with immuno-scanning electron microscopy. Immunohistochemically, high intense staining for MUC1 (antigen HFMG1) was detected in the epithelial superficial layers. In the superficial layer, intense MUC1 expression was seen predominantly on the apical cell surface. On the apical epithelial cells, MUC1 was associated predominantly with MPL towards the oral cavity. The novelty of the results of the present study is that MPL serves a harbor of MUC1 in superficial epithelial cells towards the oral cavity. It is speculated that the transmembrane MUC1 is one component of the "oral mucosal barrier complex" representing a signaling pathway between saliva and mucosal cells.

Salivary glands are essential structures in the oral cavity. A variety of diseases, such as cancer, autoimmune diseases, infections and physical traumas, can alter the functionality of these glands, greatly impacting the quality of life of patients. To date, no definitive therapeutic approach can compensate the impairment of salivary glands, and treatment are purely symptomatic. Understanding the cellular and molecular control of salivary glands function is, therefore, highly relevant for therapeutic purposes. In this review, we provide a starting platform for future studies in basic biology and clinical research, reporting classical ideas on salivary gland physiology and recently developed technology to guide regeneration, reconstruction and substitution of the functional organs.

The presence of Candida albicans in the biofilm underlying the dental prosthesis is related to denture stomatitis (DS), an inflammatory reaction of the oral mucosa. The oral epithelium, a component of the innate immune response, has the ability to react to fungal invasion. In this study, we evaluated the in vitro effect of viable C. albicans on the apoptosis, nitric oxide (NO) production, and &beta, defensin 2 (hBD-2) expression and production of human palate epithelial cells (HPECs). We further determined whether or not these effects were correlated with fungal invasion of epithelial cells. Interaction between HPEC primary culture and C. albicans was obtained through either direct or indirect cell&ndash, cell contact with a supernatant from a hyphal fungus. We found that the hyphae supernatants were sufficient to induce slight HPEC apoptosis, which occurred prior to the activation of the specific mechanisms of epithelial defense. The epithelial defense responses were found to occur via NO and antimicrobial peptide hBD-2 production only during direct contact between C. albicans and HPECs and coincided with the fungus&rsquo, s intraepithelial invasion. However, although the hBD-2 levels remained constant in the HPEC supernatants over time, the NO release and hBD-2 gene expression were reduced at a later time (10 h), indicating that the epithelial defense capacity against the fungal invasion was not maintained in later phases. This aspect of the immune response was associated with increased epithelial invasion and apoptosis maintenance.

Good oral health is critical for general health and well-being. Several innovative drug delivery systems have been developed for local treatment of various oral diseases [1].

Human &beta, defensin 2 (hBD-2) is a potent antimicrobial peptide that participates in defense against invading bacteria. We recently showed that bacterial components and histamine, through histamine H4 receptor (H4R), are involved in the pathogenesis of the potentially malignant lesion, oral lichen planus (OLP). However, the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. We, therefore, investigated the role of hBD2&ndash, histamine crosstalk signaling in promoting OLP pathology. Biopsies from OLP and oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC) patients, and healthy controls were used. Two OTSCC cell lines and normal human oral keratinocytes (HOKs) were used. HBD-2 and other targets were mapped by immunostaining and analyzed by ImageJ2 software. The highly sensitive droplet-digital PCR technology and qRT-PCR were utilized to study the clinically derived and in vitro samples, respectively. H4R was challenged with the specific agonist HST-10 and inverse agonist ST-1007. HBD-2 was highly induced in OLP lesions. In contrast, hBD2 expression was attenuated in OTSCC tissues, while very low levels of hBD-2 messenger RNA (mRNA) were observed in OTSCC cells. Together with tumor necrosis factor-&alpha, (TNF-&alpha, ), histamine upregulated hBD-2 mRNA expression in HOKs. Activation of H4R seems to modulate the expression of epithelial hBD-2. These findings suggest the involvement of hBD-2 in the pathogenesis of OLP and may, thus, be harnessed for therapeutic interventions in OLP.

Background/Purpose: Lichen planus is a T-cell-mediated mucocutaneous disorder characterized histopathologically by a band of chronic inflammatory cells in the subepithelial zone and degeneration of basal layer. The present study was aimed to evaluate the distribution and quantitative assessment of cluster of differentiation 1a (CD1a)-positive Langerhans cells (LCs) in oral lichen planus (OLP), thus to determine the role of LCs pertaining to the changes occurring in OLP. Materials and Methods: Five cases of normal oral mucosa and 20 cases of OLP were immunostained with CD1a antibody; the positive cells were counted manually in the photomicrographs and statistically analyzed using t-test, Mann–Whitney test, and Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results: The average percentage of CD1a-positive LCs in normal subjects was 0.9%, and in the OLP cases higher percentage was observed (3.93%). The statistical comparison of these two parameters was significant (P =0.018). The degree of basal cell degeneration and density of subepithelial infiltrate on statistical comparison with the concentration of CD1a-positive LCs showed significant results. Conclusion: LCs play a pivotal role in the recruitment of CD4+ and CD8+ cells to the subepithelial region and basal keratinocytes apoptosis. A small number of study subjects, assessment of only CD1a molecule and LCs in the epidermis only were a few of the drawbacks of the study.

Objectives Evaluating structural changes in oral epithelium can assist with the diagnosis of cancerous lesions. Two-dimensional (2D) non-invasive optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an established technique for this purpose. The objective of this study was to develop and test the diagnostic accuracy of a three-dimensional (3D) evaluation method. Methods The oral lip mucosa of 10 healthy volunteers was scanned using an 870-nm spectral-domain OCT device (SD-OCT) with enhanced depth imaging (EDI). Four raters semi-automatically segmented the epithelial layer twice. Thus, eighty 3D datasets were created and analyzed for epithelial thickness. To provide a reference standard for comparison, the raters took cross-sectional 2D measurements at representative sites. The correlation between the 2D and 3D measurements, as well as intra- and inter-rater reliability, were analyzed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). Results Mean epithelial thickness was 280 ± 64μm (range 178–500 μm) and 268 ± 49μm (range 163–425 μm) for the 2D and 3D analysis, respectively. The inter-modality correlation of the thickness values was good (ICC: 0.76 [0.626–0.846]), indicating that 3D analysis of epithelial thickness provides valid results. Intra-rater and inter-rater reliability were good (3D analysis) and excellent (2D analysis), suggesting high reproducibility. Conclusions Diagnostic accuracy was high for the developed 3D analysis of oral epithelia using non-invasive, radiation-free OCT imaging. Clinical significance This new 3D technique could potentially be used to improve time-efficiency and quality in the diagnosis of epithelial lesions compared with the 2D reference standard., oral epithelium, semi-automatic segmentation, optical coherence tomography, thickness measurement.

Numerous oral sensations contribute to the flavor experienced from foods. Texture is sensed throughout the mouth by nerve endings in the oral epithelium. Chemesthetic sensations, including irritation, spiciness, and chemical burn or cooling, are sensed by these same nerves. Tastes are sensed by taste buds, primarily on the tongue, which transduce information through the gustatory nerves. Even after placing food in the mouth, odor is still experienced through retronasal olfaction, the air that passes through the rear of the oral cavity into the nasal passages. All of these sensations combine to give an overall experience of flavor. In individuals with dysphagia, these oral sensory systems can be used to improve swallowing function. Texture is the most common current approach, but the other oral sensations, particularly chemesthesis, may also hold potential for making sensory modified foods for dysphagia management. However, modifying any of these sensory properties also alters the overall food flavor, which can lead to decreased liking of the food.

ΔNp63 exerts dominant-negative activities against TAp63 and p53, and ΔNp63 is thus considered as an oncoprotein. The majority of the initial alterations of precancerous and cancerous oral lesions are not readily recognizable, on clinical or histopathological examination. The basic biology of initiation and progression of these tumors is still obscure. So the objective of this study is to evaluate the expression of ΔNP63 among normal oral epithelium, oral carcinoma in situ and OSCC using an immunohistochemical approach. Material and methods: A total of 78 archival paraffin embedded specimens (26 normal oral epithelium, 26 oral carcinoma in situ and 26 OSCC) will be collected. The mean ΔNP63 will be evaluated by immunohistochemical staining, (P < 0.05) was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: ΔNp63 the greatest mean area of immunoexpression was recorded in the poorly differentiated OSCC, whereas the least value was recorded in normal mucosa. (ANOVA) test revealed that the difference was extremely statistically significant (P

Four new pregnane steroids, aglaiasterols A–D (1–4), have been isolated from the EtOH extract of stems of Aglaia abbreviata. They were identified as (3α,5α,17Z)-3-hydroxypregn-17-en-16-one (1), (3β,5α,17E)-3-hydroxypregn-17-en-16-one (2), (3β,5α,17Z)-3-hydroxypregn-17-en-16-one (3), and (3α,5α,20S*)-3-hydroxy-16-oxopregnan-20-yl acetate (4) on the basis of spectroscopic methods, including 1D- and 2D-NMR techniques. Compounds 1–4 were evaluated for their cytotoxic activities against K562 (human leukemia), MCF-7 (human breast cancer), and KB (human oral epithelium cancer) cells, and drug-resistant cells of K562/A02, MCF-7/ADM, and KB/VCR. These isolates showed weak to moderate inhibitory effects on the growth of the tested cell lines.

The use of the mobile device is based on radiofrequency waves, an electromagnetic wave type. To verify if cellular damage occurs, the micronucleus test was developed, aiming to identify an increase in the frequency of mutations in cells that are exposed to a varied range of agents. Objective: This study aims to answer the following question: "Could the nonionizing radiation emitted by mobile telephone devices cause genotoxic and/or cytotoxic effects in the cells present in the oral mucosa, from microscopic observation by the micronucleus test?" Study Design: Three stages were followed: defining the objective, tracing the search method (PICO), selecting articles, and extracting data. The databases consulted were: MEDLINE, PubMed (AllDatabases, MeSH), Scopus, LILACS, Google academic, PROSPERO, and COCHRANE using the Boolean operators Persons, Smartphone, Mutagenicity Tests, and Mouth, based on MeSH terms. Results: A total of 396 articles were found, 323 abstracts were analyzed, 312 abstracts were excluded, and w6 full texts and 6 studies were included, according to the table of scientific evidence (grade 5). Conclusion: Our study revealed that there is no occurrence of genotoxic effects; nonetheless, there is a suggestion of occurrence of cytotoxic effects caused by exposure to electromagnetic fields of radiofrequency emitted by mobile phones, especially in case of prolonged exposure.

Oral epidermoid carcinoma (OEC) is malignant neoplasia arising from the oral epithelium, comprising most of 90% of cancers in the oral cavity. Lip carcinoma is related to ultraviolet radiation exposure, and intra-oral carcinomas are related to tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption. About 15% of oropharyngeal lesions are related to HPV. OEC can affect any area of the oral mucosa. We report a series of 11 cases of OEC, with distinct appearance and localization, affecting males and females aged 34 to 90 years, with or without a history of exposure to risk factors. Lesions varied from small leukoplastic plaques to endophytic tumors with significant bone invasion. When indicated, radiographs and CT scans showed hypodense lesions with extensive bone destruction. OECs were diagnosed by incisional biopsy, and the treatments included surgery resection, radiotherapy, and/or chemotherapy, depending on the TNM stages. The prognosis varied according to tumor size, lymph node invasion, and/or distant metastasis.

In this study, the beta dose given to oral epithelium was estimated from the activities of radionuclides 238U, 232Th, 226Ra and 40K in feldspathic and zirconium dioxide (ZrO2) dental ceramics before and after the sintering process. They were measured using a well -type HPGe detector. 232Th activity is generally below the minimum detectable level of 1.6 Bq⋅kg−1 in all samples and 238U activity was far below the 1000 Bq⋅kg−1 limit stipulated by ISO 6872 standard. However, 226Ra activity was observed in all samples except for ZrO2 core samples ranged from 8.3 ± 1.1 to 105 ± 4 Bq⋅kg−1. Considerable 40K activity was observed in the feldspathic ceramic and ZrO2 veneer ceramic samples (between 1564 ± 48 Bq⋅kg−1 and 2703 ± 84 Bq⋅kg−1). The beta dose to oral epithelium tissue calculated from the measured activities was determined to be 1.5 mGy/y in a worse-case scenario in which all teeth were restored with dental ceramics. All results indicate that there is no concern about extra beta dose given to oral epithelium due to zirconia used as dental ceramics.

A healthy oral environment features a rapid turnover rate of epithelium cells capable of regeneration and repair, with the oral epithelium contributing as a physical barrier and immune defense. However, the oral cavity can be subjected to unique damage, such as ulcerations. Honey is reported as a therapeutic agent for wound healing, due to its antioxidant, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.

Background/aim Paradontopathy and neoplasms of the oral cavity represent one of the greatest challenges in human and animal dentistry. EGF plays a key role in maintaining the integrity and proper rate of cell proliferation in normal oral epithelium. The aim of the present study was to study serum levels of EGF in dogs diagnosed with periodontal diseases and oral cavity tumours. Materials and methods The samples comprised of cancerous tissue sections and serum obtained from dogs of various breeds, aged between 5-13 years. Serum EGF concentrations were measured by an immunoenzymatic method. Results The median for EGF concentration in serum of dogs suffered from severe periodontal diseases was greater when compared to the control group. EGF concentration in dogs with malignant tumours was significantly higher than in those with non-malignant growths. A positive correlation between EGF concentration and tumour size was also observed. EGF level in dogs diagnosed with benign tumours was comparable to the control group. Conclusion The blood serum level of EGF increases significantly in patients with malignant oral tumours and advanced periodontal disease. In malignant tumours, the high level of EGF correlates with the size and invasiveness of the neoplasm.

Limited previous studies on caecilian taste organs have demonstrated the presence of very few taste buds in the oral epithelium, while providing somewhat contradictory reports of their distribution within the oropharynx and across taxa. Here we report on the gross morphology of the tongue and explore the distribution, number and morphology of taste organs of five caecilian species representing five families, focusing upon variation within the group and investigating whether larvae and adults have the same type of taste organs. We find that taste buds are widespread in the oropharynx of caecilians and that they occur both in adults and larvae of a species with a biphasic life history. Thus Gymnophiona differ substantially from Batriachia, which have distinct larval and adult taste organs.

Despite the accessibility of the oral cavity to clinical examination, delays in diagnosis of oral and oropharyngeal carcinoma (OOPC) are observed in a large majority of patients, with negative impact on prognosis. Diagnostic aids might help detection and improve early diagnosis, but there remains little robust evidence supporting the use of any particular diagnostic technology at the moment. The aim of the present feasibility first-in-human study was to evaluate the preliminary diagnostic validity of a novel technology platform based on dielectrophoresis (DEP). DEP does not require labeling with antibodies or stains and it is an ideal tool for rapid analysis of cell properties. Cells from OOPC/dysplasia tissue and healthy oral mucosa were collected from 57 study participants via minimally-invasive brush biopsies and tested with a prototype DEP platform using median membrane midpoint frequency as main analysis parameter. Results indicate that the current DEP platform can discriminate between brush biopsy samples from cancerous and healthy oral tissue with a diagnostic sensitivity of 81.6% and a specificity of 81.0%. The present ex vivo results support the potential application of DEP testing for identification of OOPC. This result indicates that DEP has the potential to be developed into a low-cost, rapid platform as an assistive tool for the early identification of oral cancer in primary care; given the rapid, minimally-invasive and non-expensive nature of the test, dielectric characterization represents a promising platform for cost-effective early cancer detection.

Herpetic stomatitis as well as many other infections of the orofacial region in everyday practice represent an important percentage of pathology. These diseases can be a major problem for therapists in terms of early diagnosis and, consequently, in determining the correct treatment. The disease belongs to a group of droplet infection, caused by the herpes simplex virus, with characteristic changes in the skin and mucous membrane in children and adults. A relatively small percentage, 10-15% of primary infections are manifested with clinically distinct symptoms. At the oral mucosa occurs triad of symptoms: generalized catarrhal gingivitis, coated tongue and erosions dispersed all over oral epithelium of the oral cavity.

Potentially malignant oral mucosal disease has some ability to give rise to malignancy of the oral epithelium, that is, oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The present article provides a succinct review of the possible or probable causes of potentially premalignant oral epithelial lesions. There is a focus upon studies that examined the causes or etiologic associations with clinically likely or histopathologically detectable oral epithelial dysplasia.

BackgroundThe oral mucosa is an important defense barrier to penetration of microorganisms. Thus, changes in the oral epithelium might indicate risk for infection in intensive care patients receiving mechanical ventilation.ObjectiveTo evaluate the oral mucosa of intensive care patients who did or did not receive mechanical ventilation by using liquid-base exfoliative cytology.MethodsThe sample consisted of 3 groups: 27 patients admitted to intensive care during a 7- to 14-day period who received mechanical ventilation, 29 patients admitted during the same period who did not receive mechanical ventilation, and 27 healthy patients who had no lesions in the mouth. For all 3 groups, samples were collected from the buccal mucosa by using cytology brushes. Smears were applied to glass slides before Papanicolaou staining and were codified for blind analyses by a cytopathologist. Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn tests were used to analyze the results.ResultsPatients receiving mechanical ventilation had higher prevalence and intensity of karyomegaly, perinuclear halos, cell keratinization, deep cells, and leukocyte infiltrates than did patients in the other 2 groups (P < .05). No significant differences were observed between the control group and the group who did not receive mechanical ventilation.ConclusionsLiquid-base exfoliative cytology can be used to detect preclinical alterations in the oral mucosa. Patients treated with mechanical ventilation are vulnerable to infections, and oral care may be valuable in their prognosis.

Background uncertainties in detection of oral epithelial dysplasia (OED) frequently result from sampling error especially in inflammatory oral lesions. Endomicroscopy allows non-invasive, “en face” imaging of upper oral epithelium but parameters of OED are unknown. Methods mucosal nuclei were imaged in 34 toluidine blue stained oral lesions with a commercial endomicroscope. Histopathological diagnosis showed 4 biopsies in “dys-/ neoplastic”, 23 in “inflammatory”, 7 in “others” disease groups. Strength of different assessment strategies of nuclear scoring, nuclear count and automated nuclear analysis were measured by area under ROC–curve (AUC) to identify histopathological “dys-/neoplastic” group. Nuclear objects from automated image analysis were visually corrected. Results best performing parameters of nuclear-to-image ratios were the count of large nuclei (AUC=.986) and 6-nearest-neighborhood relation (AUC=.896) and for parameters of nuclear polymorphism the count of atypical nuclei (AUC=.996) and compactness of nuclei (AUC=.922). Excluding low grade OED nuclear scoring and count reached 100% sensitivity and 98% specificity for detection of dys-/neoplastic lesions. In automated analysis, combination of parameters enhanced diagnostic strength. Sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 87% was seen for distances of 6-nearest-neighbors and aspect ratios even in uncorrected objects. Correction improved measures of nuclear polymorphism only. The hue of background color was stronger than nuclear density (AUC=.779 vs. .687) to detect dys-/neoplastic group indicating that macroscopic aspect is biased. Conclusions nuclear-to-image ratios are applicable for automated optical in vivo diagnostics for oral potentially malignant disorders. Nuclear endomicroscopy may promote non-invasive, early detection of dys-/neoplastic lesions by reducing sampling error. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Streptococcus mitis (S. mitis) is a pioneer commensal bacterial species colonizing many of the surfaces of the oral cavity in healthy individuals. Yet, not much information is available regarding its interaction with the host. We used examination of its transcriptional regulation in oral keratinocytes to elucidate some of its potential roles in the oral cavity. Transcription factor analysis of oral keratinocytes predicted S. mitis-mediated activation of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). Activation and functionality of AhR was confirmed through nuclear translocation determined by immunofluorescence microscopy and real-time polymerase chain reaction with reverse transcription analysis of CYP1A1, the hallmark gene for AhR activation. Addition of Streptococcus mutans or Streptococcus gordonii did not induce CYP1A1 transcription in the keratinocyte cultures. Introduction of an AhR-specific inhibitor revealed that S. mitis-mediated transcription of CXCL2 and CXCL8 was regulated by AhR. Elevated levels of prostaglandin E2 (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) in supernatants from S. mitis-treated oral epithelial cells were also attenuated by inhibition of AhR activity. The observed AhR-regulated activities point to a contribution of S. mitis in the regulation of inflammatory responses and thereby to wound healing in the oral cavity. The concept that the oral commensal microbiota can induce AhR activation is important, also in view of the role that AhR has in modulation of T-cell differentiation and as an anti-inflammatory factor in macrophages.

TUBITAK, The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey., Aim: To compare genetic aberrations in the oral epithelium of lung cancer patients with those without cancer. Subjects and Methods: Buccal smears were performed to collect oral epithelium from each of the participants (smoker cancer patients n = 50, smoker control subjects n = 40, and nonsmoker control subjects n = 25). Cytogenetic changes in the samples were detected by micronuclei assay, whereas p53 and murine double minute 2 (MDM2) polymorphisms were genotyped using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Results: p53 codon 72 polymorphism was seen in 44% of cancer patients versus 12.5% in smokers and 12% in nonsmokers of the control group. Similarly, MDM2 single nucleotide polymorphism 309 polymorphism was seen in 34% of patients with lung cancer as opposed to 12.5% of smokers (P = 0.038) and 8% of nonsmokers (P = 0.019) of the control group. Conclusion: A higher proportion of individuals with lung cancer demonstrate genetic damage to oral mucosa compared to those without cancer., TUBITAK, The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey

Objectives: The study aims to establish an etiological association between diabetes and precancerous lesions of the oral cavity by cytomorphometric analysis of the oral epithelium. Study Design: Smears were obtained from three distinct oral sites – buccal mucosa, dorsum of the tongue and the floor of the mouth in ten controls and ten patients previously diagnosed with type II diabetes. The oral smears were stained with Papanicolaou SA-36 solution. An eye – piece graticule was used to obtain the cytoplasm and nuclear dimension; where larger dimension was denoted as “D” and the smaller dimension was denoted as “d”. The nuclear area (NA), nuclear diameter (ND), cytoplasmic area (CA) and the cytoplasmic / nuclear ratio (C/N) were evaluated from 50 cells predominant in each oral site. Statistical Analysis: The cytomorphometric data obtained was compared between the group of diabetic patients and the control groups using the student’s t- test (SPSS version 11.0). Results: Results showed that the nuclear area and the nuclear diameter of oral epithelial cells were increased in diabetic patients, as compared to non- diabetics, while the non- diabetic patients demonstrated an increase in nuclear ratio. Conclusions: The results from this study suggest that diabetes mellitus can cause alterations in oral epithelial cells that are detectable with exfoliative cytology. Key words: Cytomorphometry, diabetes mellitus, oral exfoliative cytology