Detection of salivary heat shock protein 27 by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and its correlation with histopathology of oral leukoplakia

CONTEXT: Salivary analytes may be used as biomarkers for translational and clinical applications. Heat shock proteins (Hsps) are ubiquitous, highly conserved proteins found in all prokaryotic and eukaryotic species. Hsp27, a low molecular weight protein, may act as a salivary biomarker. Leukoplakia is the most common oral potentially malignant disorder and various salivary biomarkers such as interleukin-6, 8, tumor necrosis factor-α and MMPs have been detected in it. Oral leukoplakia presents clinically as homogenous and nonhomogenous forms; the microscopic pattern ranges from simple epithelial hyperplasia to carcinoma in situ. AIMS: This study aims to detect salivary Hsp27 in oral leukoplakia by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and to correlate its expression pattern with histopathology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 45 cases had constituted the study group. Salivary Hsp27 levels were assessed by ELISA in histopathologically confirmed cases of oral leukoplakia and were compared with that of healthy volunteers. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Mann–Whitney U-test and Spearman's correlation coefficient were used for the detection of Hsp27 and its correlation with mean absorbance levels. RESULTS: The mean absorbance values had shown elevated expression of Hsp27 in oral leukoplakia when compared to that in healthy volunteers. CONCLUSIONS: The present study had shown elevated expression of salivary Hsp27 in oral leukoplakia which could be attributed to altered redox potential.