Interleukins Signature Profile in the Etiopathogenesis of Oral Submucous Fibrosis: A Comprehensive Study

A BSTRACT Objective: Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is a chronic progressive disorder of the oral cavity characterized by an increased malignant transformation rate. Understanding the pathogenetic components is crucial for the design and development of effective targeted therapies. Interleukins are a group of cytokines found to be altered in many fibrotic disorders of the oral cavity. Their signature in OSMF, especially at the tissue level, will help unveil novel pathogenesis and help in better understanding the disease. Method: For the current study, a total of 21 OSMF and 10 healthy participants were enrolled, and tissue samples were collected by incisional biopsy. The LEGENDplex™ Human Cytokine Panel 2 kit was used for the analysis of the cytokines with the help of flow cytometry. Interleukins analyzed included IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-12p40, IL-12p70, IL-15, IL-17, IL-18, IL-23, IL-27, and IL-33. Results: According to the study results, interleukin levels significantly increased during the early and late stages of the disease. IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-18, and IL-33 showed significant upregulation. Other interleukins such as IL-12p40, IL-12p70, IL-15, IL-17, IL-23, and IL-27 exhibited downregulation in late-stage OSMF. Conclusions: This study aids in associating the dynamics of cytokines with the stage of the disease, thus providing a comprehensive understanding of the individual effect of the cytokines on the progression.