title: Is there a role for tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in oral lichen planus?
abstract: Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a T cell-mediated inflammatory disease of the oral mucosa. T lymphocytes accumulate within OLP lesions by extravasation from the local microvasculature and subsequent migration to the oral epithelium. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is a cytokine involved primarily in T cell-mediated immunopathological reactions, and it is implicated in diseases which bear clinical and histological similarities to OLP. This review examines the role of TNF-alpha in the initiation and progression of OLP, and summarises evidence for a key role for TNF-alpha in this disease. A unifying hypothesis for the involvement of TNF-alpha in the immunopathogenesis of OLP is presented. Based on this model, a variety of current therapies are explained and several alternative approaches suggested.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: P B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Sugermann
authors.forename: N W
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Savage
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Seymour
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Walsh
mesh_terms: D002465:Cell Movement; D018450:Disease Progression; D004848:Epithelium / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D017676:Lichen Planus, Oral / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008833:Microcirculation; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000098:blood supply; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha