Assessment of Serum and Salivary Progranulin Levels in Oral Submucous Fibrosis

Background: Oral submucous fibrosis is a chronic inflammatory condition and a common potentially malignant oral disorder. It has been postulated that inflammation and cancer share a common link by activation of common transcription factors which enhances gene expression involved in the regulation and production of inflammatory mediators and also in the regulation of survival and proliferation of cancer cells. Inflammation has been added as one of the hallmarks in cancer development. Progranulin or proepithelin is a high molecular weight secreted mitogen, it has been recently introduced as a novel marker for chronic inflammatory response. The functions of progranulin is multifaceted; progranulin levels have yet been unexplored in the context of submucous fibrosis as well as oral cancer. Aim: To assess Serum and Salivary Progranulin Levels in Oral Submucous Fibrosis. Materials and methods: The study consisted of two groups. Group I (Control N=10) and Group II (OSMF N=30). Serum and salivary samples were collected and further progranulin levels were analysed using ELISA. Results: Overall, the results of the present study showed that the levels of progranulin were elevated both in serum and saliva of patients with OSMF The serum progranulin levels correlated positively with salivary levels (p<0.001). In addition the progranulin levels increased significantly as the stages of OSMF progressed. Discussion: Amongst the various inflammatory mediators, TNF- is one of the key mediators which play a vital role in the pathogenesis of OSMF. Progranulin, the novel ligand of TNFR1/2 receptors could be one of the reasons for causing decrease in collagenase enzyme and increase in collagen production with progression of disease severity. Hence it can be inferred that this multifaceted molecule, progranulin has an important role to play in the pathogenesis of OSMF. Conclusion: Progranulin, the novel ligand of TNFR1/2 receptors could be one of the reasons for causing decrease in collagenase enzyme and increase in collagen production with progression of disease severity. Hence it can be inferred that progranulin has an important role to play in the pathogenesis of OSMF.