Mast cell degranulation and the role of T cell RANTES in oral lichen planus.
OBJECTIVE
The present study investigated mast cell degranulation in oral lichen planus (OLP) and the effect of OLP lesional T cell supernatants on mast cell degranulation.


METHODS
Immunohistochemistry was used to identify mast cell degranulation in both OLP (n = 22) and normal control (n = 14) tissues. OLP lesional T cell lines (n = 5) and HMC-1 (a human leukemia mast cell line) were used to examine the effects of OLP T cell supernatants on mast cell degranulation in vitro.


RESULTS
Approximately 60% of mast cells were degranulated in OLP. OLP lesional T cells expressed mRNA for RANTES, and TNF-alpha stimulation upregulated OLP lesional T cell RANTES secretion. OLP lesional T cell supernatants induced degranulation of HMC-1 with release of TNF-alpha and histamine. Human recombinant RANTES similarly induced mast cell degranulation. Anti-RANTES antibody blocked OLP lesional T cell supernatant-induced mast cell degranulation.


CONCLUSIONS
This study is the first to show that OLP lesional T cells produce and secrete RANTES which triggers human mast cell degranulation. Degranulating mast cells release TNF-alpha which upregulates OLP lesional T cell RANTES secretion. Such a cyclical mechanism may underlie disease chronicity and future therapies may include blocking RANTES or TNF-alpha activity in OLP.
Zhao
Z Z
ZZ
School of Dentistry, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
Sugerman
P B
PB
Zhou
X J
XJ
Walsh
L J
LJ
Savage
N W
NW
D000906:Antibodies; D015550:Cell Degranulation / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D002460:Cell Line; D002469:Cell Separation; D018946:Chemokine CCL5 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006636:Histamine Release / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017676:Lichen Planus, Oral / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000502:physiology; D015854:Up-Regulation
D000906:Antibodies; D018946:Chemokine CCL5; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha