Assessment of Syndecan‑1 Antigen in Oral Submucous Fibrosis According to Grades of Epithelial Dysplasia

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the syndecan‑1 expression in oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) according to grades of epithelial dysplasia. Materials and Methods: Twenty samples of OSF were divided into three groups: Group 1 (OSF with mild epithelial dysplasia, n = 15), Group 2 (OSF with moderate epithelial dysplasia, n = 3), and Group 3 (OSF with severe epithelial dysplasia, n = 2). Results: A statistically nonsignificant (P > 0.05) difference was noted when staining intensity of syndecan‑1 in stratum basale were compared between OSF with mild dysplasia (O1) and OSF with moderate dysplasia (O2) (P = 0.141), O1 and OSF with severe dysplasia (O3) (P = 0.222) also between O2 and O3 (P = 1.00). A statistically significant (P < 0.05) difference was noted when staining intensity of syndecan‑1 in stratum spinosum were compared between O1 and O2 (P = 0.010), O1 and O3 (P = 0.038), between O2 and O3 the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.414). A statistically nonsignificant difference was noted when intensity of syndecan‑1 expression in superficial layers of the epithelium was compared between O1 and O2 (P = 0.655), O1 and O3 (P = 0.715), also when O2 and O3 were compared, the difference was not statistically significant (P = 1.00). Conclusion: Downregulation of syndecan‑1 antigen in OSF according to increased grades of epithelial dysplasia correlates to some extent with the disease progression.