Comparative Evaluation of role of Lysyl oxidase gene (LOXG473A) expression in pathogenesis and malignant transformation of Oral Submucous Fibrosis

BACKGROUND: Identification and comparison of gene expression of Lysyl oxidase (LOX) in oral submucous fibrosis and controls and to determine its role in Pathogenesis of Oral submucous fibrosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Of total sample size (n=127), the whole blood sample were collected from case and control group in citrate vial. It is centrifused and stored at -800C. We collected and isolated RNA from blood of case group (n=127) and age and sex matched control group (n=127) recruited on the basis of inclusion criteria. The cDNA was prepared for 127 samples which were processed for gene expression of Lysyl oxidase (LOX) in relation to housekeeping genes (Beta actin and 18srRNA) and its role in pathogenesis of Oral submucous fibrosis. RESULTS: In relative expression (Normalized ratio),relatively 11 cases shown down-regulation of lysyl oxidase gene while 27 cases shows up-regulation of lysyl oxidase gene while in 89 cases there were no regulation i.e expression of lysyl oxidase gene in case group was of same degree of control. In non-relative expression results (Non-normalized ratio), the 38 cases shown down regulation of LOX gene while in 53 cases, it was up-regulated however in remaining 36 cases there was neither up-regulation nor down-regulation of Lysyl oxidase gene i.e the expression of LOX gene is null. CONCLUSIONS: In oral submucous fibrosis, the expression of Lysyl oxidase gene is mixed type i.e either it will down regulate/upregulate or there will be no expression at all comparatively. However in majority of cases the upregulation of lysyl oxidase is relatively more common than down-regulation or non expression of Lysyl oxidase gene. Key words:Oral submucous fibrosis, lysyl oxidase, betel nut, premalignant disorders.