Figure 4
The expression of TGFβ1-inhibiting Smad-7 is upregulated in BRONJ-adjacent mucoperiosteal tissue, but decreased in osteoradionecrosis-adjacent oral mucosa. (a-c) Representative immunohistochemically stained tissue sections show cytoplasmic Smad-7 staining at × 200 magnification. Scale bars are 100 μm. (a) Cellular Smad-7 expression was only rarely detected throughout healthy mucoperiosteal soft tissue. (b) An increased number of cells with Smad-7 positive staining was observed in BRONJ-related mucoperiosteal tissue. (c) Osteoradionecrosis-related mucoperiosteal tissue showed increased expression of Smad-7 compared to that observed in BRONJ-related tissue and controls. (d) The relative number (labeling index) of Smad-7-expressing cells was significantly increased in BRONJ samples (p(0.031) (Table 1).