FIGURE 7.

Expression of crucial molecules in the Nrf2 and NLRP3 signalling pathways was remarkably altered in the oral mucosa epithelium of smokers. A, Representative IHC staining of normal oral mucosa epithelium of non‐smokers and smokers. At high magnification, scale bar = 50 μm (insets). B, Histogram of IHC score of healthy individuals (n = 8/group). C, Representative IHC staining in non‐smokers and smokers with OLK. At power magnification, scale bar = 50 μm (insets). (D) Histogram of IHC score of patients with OLK (n = 15/group). Each bar represents the mean ± SD. *P < .05, **P < .01, compared between two groups. C. albicans: Candida albicans; IHC: immunohistochemical staining; OLK: oral leucoplakia; p‐Nrf2: phosphorylated Nrf2