Evaluation of peripheral nerve fibers and mast cells in burning mouth syndrome

Abstract Emerging evidence has revealed a cross-talk in the etiopathogenesis of burning mouth syndrome (BMS) related to peripheral nerve fibers (NF) and neuropeptides secreted by mast cells. Here, we investigated the S-100+ density and PGP 9.5+ integrity of peripheral NF and the tryptase+ mast cell density in the oral mucosa of BMS patients and healthy individuals. A total of 23 oral mucosa specimens (12 BMS and 11 controls) were evaluated. The clinical diagnosis of BMS was based on a careful examination, excluding other local and systemic causes. Samples were taken from an incisional biopsy of the tongue mucosa of individuals with symptomatic BMS, while the margins of the non-neoplastic tongue biopsy served as controls of healthy individuals. Immunohistochemistry was performed to determine the density/mm2 of S-100+, PGP 9.5+ peripheral NF, and tryptase+ mast cells. Similar densities of S-100+, PGP 9.5+ peripheral NF, and tryptase+ mast cells were found in cases of BMS, with a median value of 3.70, 0.70, and 29.24/mm2, respectively, and in the control group, with a median value of 2.60, 0.80, and 26.01/mm2, respectively (p > 0.05). Moreover, the relationship between S100+ and PGP 9.5+ peripheral NF was the same in both groups (p = 0.70). This study demonstrated that there were no alterations in the density and integrity of peripheral NF in the tongue of symptomatic BMS patients. However, the sensitization of peripheral NF in this disease may not depend on mast cell density.