title: Assessment of Langerhans' cells in oral lichen planus using monoclonal antibodies.
abstract: In order to demonstrate Langerhans' cells in epithelium of oral lichen planus, monoclonal antibodies were used as immunological markers in combination with immunohistochemistry. By the use of anti-Ia antibodies the Langerhans' cells were shown to express an increased number of Ia-like antigens in comparison to the amounts found in healthy oral mucosa. The subepithelial infiltrate of mononuclear cells expressed identical Ia-like antigens on their surfaces. With anti-T6 antibodies as immunological markers, the number of Langerhans' cells was found to be virtually identical in diseased and healthy epithelium. Treatment of oral lichen planus with tretinoin resulted in a decrease of epithelial Ia-like antigens compared with the number found in untreated lesions. However, treatment with tretinoin did not alter the frequency of Langerhans' cell marked with anti-T6 antibodies. The present data demonstrate an increased amount of Ia-like antigens per number of T6-positive Langerhans' cells in diseased oral mucosa compared to healthy conditions. The increased expression of Ia-like antigens on Langerhans' cells and the contemporary finding of Ia-like antigens on the subepithelial T-cells support the opinion that the pathogenesis of oral lichen planus is mainly a cell-mediated type of immunological reaction.
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D008010:Lichen Planus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D009055:Mouth / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II