Novel role of CD34+ stromal cells/telocytes in oral submucous fibrosis development and its malignant transformation

Abstract

Background: Telocytes are interstitial cells widely distributed in the extracellular matrix of numerous tissues distinguished by their long, thin, and moniliform projections. Telocytes have a role in the stimulation of angiogenesis and contribute to the development and progression of fibrosis.

Aim: The current study aimed to assess and compare the telocyte distribution in normal mucosa, oral submucous fibrosis (OSF), and OSCC associated with OSF (OSCCOSF).

Materials and methods: Formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissue blocks of 30 OSF cases, 15 OSCCOSF cases, and 15 normal oral mucosae were obtained. Immunohistochemical staining was done with antibodies to CD34 to assess the vasculature and telocytes. The mean vascular density (MVD) and mean telocyte density were compared between the groups using the Kruskal-Walli test.

Results: A statistically significant high MVD (3.4 ± 1.22) and mean telocyte density (3.8 ± 1.35) was observed in OSCCOSF cases while it was lowest in advanced OSF cases. MVD was higher in early OSF cases than in normal mucosa.

Conclusion: This study showed a decrease in CD34-positive telocytes in OSF, indicating that telocyte loss promotes the development of fibrosis.Increased angiogenesis coexisted with an increase in telocytes in OSCCOSF.

Keywords: Angiogenesis; Fibrosis; Malignant transformation; Oral squamous cell carcinoma; Oral submucous fibrosis; Telocytes.