Effect of 5-ALA-mediated photodynamic therapy on mast cell and microvessels densities present in oral premalignant lesions induced in rats

•Mast cell and microvessels densities can increase after photodynamic therapy (PDT).•Increase on angiogenesis is related to progression of oral premalignant lesions (OPL).•We observed increase on mast cell degranulation and angiogenesis in OPL after PDT.•Possibility of OPL progression must be considered after PDT.

Acute inflammatory response after photodynamic therapy is frequently described, and increase on mast cell degranulation is also present during this process. The mast cell activation may improve angiogenesis, and this fact has been associated with progression of oral premalignant lesions (OPL). The aim of this study was to evaluate whether photodynamic therapy (PDT) increases mast cell density (MCD) and microvessels density (MVD) in 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide(4NQO)-induced OPL in rats. 4NQO-induced OPL were treated or not with 5-ALA followed by laser irradiation (PDT group and 4NQO groups, respectively). Mast cells and CD34 + microvessels were counted. Both PDT and 4NQO groups had MCD and MVD that were higher than normal mucosa (p < 0.05). The 4NQO group had the lowest number of non-degranulated MCD in comparison to experimental periods of PDT (PDT 6 h – p = 0.020; 24 h – p = 0.016; 48 h – p = 0.003; 72 h – p = 0.033). Only in the PDT group did MCD and MVD have a significant correlation (r = 0.6219, p = 0.010). 5-ALA-mediated PDT modified the MCD and MVD in the induced OPL, leading to degranulation of mast cells and angiogenesis. A PDT protocol with an efficient eradication of the OPL must be adopted considering the angiogenesis potential associated with the mast cell activation after the therapy.