[Localization of endothelin-1 in biopsies from oral submucous fibrosis: immunoelectron microscopic study].
OBJECTIVE
To determine the endothelin-1 (ET-1) immunoreactivity in biopsies from human oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) and to investigate the relation between ET-1 and OSF.


METHODS
The localization of ET-1 in biopsies from OSF was observed with immunoelectron microscopic techniques.


RESULTS
High-density deposits existed predominantly in the cytoplasm of epithelial cells, fibroblasts and endothelial cells, but not found in the biopsies of normal controls. In the biopsies of OSF, high-density granules were lined on the cell membrane, possibly on the rough endoplasmic reticulum and the mitochondria of the epithelial cells and of the fibroblasts. But a few granules were seen in the cytoplasm of the endothelial cells of microvesseles.


CONCLUSIONS
ET-1 is one of the pathogenetic factors of OSF.
Xü
C
C
Department of Stomatology, Xiangya Hospital, Hunan Medical University, Changsha 410008, China.
Peng
X
X
Liu
S
S
D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016253:Microscopy, Immunoelectron; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009914:Oral Submucous Fibrosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*
D019332:Endothelin-1