Abstract
BACKGROUND: Mast cell infiltration in oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) has been drawn in to play a definitive role in initiation, progression, and symptom like burning sensation. Degranulation products of mast cells like tryptase and chymase have been studied through immunochemistry. The presence of mast cells in close to fibroblasts certainly makes them play a pivotal role in initiation of fibrogenesis in oral mucosa. As OSMF involves the oropharynx and esophagus along with the oral mucosa, the role of certain systemic factors might be considered in this spread apart from local factors. Present study was planned to identify the serum concentrations of various mast cell secretions like histamine and chymase using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Further, diamine oxidase (DAO), an enzyme that metabolizes histamine, was included to evaluate any correlation with serum histamine. METHODS: Thirty-nine participants were equally divided into 3 groups: OSMF patients, areca chewers without OSMF, and healthy controls. Serum samples collected by drawing blood were estimated for serum histamine, chymase, and diamine oxidase using ELISA kits. RESULTS: ELISA findings revealed significant differences in the serum values of histamine and chymase while concentration of serum DAO was not significant among the three groups. There was a positive correlation between histamine and DAO levels in all the groups. CONCLUSION: Mast cell-related bioactive molecules may render a systemic effect during initiation and progression of OSMF. DAO levels may rise linearly to metabolize histamine as a physiological phenomenon.