Fig. 6

Predicted pathogenesis centered on the local microenvironment of oral submucous fibrosis and the hypothetical mechanism of DPSCs in the treatment of OSF. Single-cell RNA sequencing of buccal mucosa from healthy volunteers and OSF patients revealed a unique epithelial cell subpopulation, Epi1.2, which interacts with T cells to alter the local immune microenvironment and lead to OSF development (above). A rat model of OSF was constructed to simulate the clinical treatment. Local submucosal injection of DPSCs could slow down the progress of OSF by reducing the expression of KRT19 ⁺ MIF ⁺ epithelial cells (Epi1.2) and CD74 ⁺ and CXCR4 ⁺ T cells, restoring mucosal homeostasis, and rebuilding the local immune microenvironment (below).