title: Cytotoxic molecule expression and epithelial cell apoptosis in oral and cutaneous lichen planus.
abstract: We evaluated the expression of T cell-restricted intracellular antigen (Tia-1), granzyme B, and perforin by lymphocytes and the degree of epithelial apoptosis in oral and cutaneous lichen planus (LP) in 51 untreated cases, including 27 oral LP (OLP) and 24 cutaneous LP (CLP) cases. The number of total dermal-positive lymphocytes in OLP and CLP was similar, indicating similar activity of the inflammatory process. Intraepithelial Tia-1-positive, perforin-positive, and granzyme B-positive lymphoid cells were more numerous in OLP than in CLP (P < .05). The epithelial cell apoptotic index (AI) was increased significantly in OLP (P < .05), particularly in erosive-atrophic variants. A linear correlation between AI and the mean +/- SEM number of intraepithelial and dermal perforin+ cells (6.85 +/- 2.44 and 27.48 +/- 10.19, respectively), per 10 high-power fields for OLP and for CLP (1.17 +/- 0.88 and 10.42 +/- 5.74, respectively), was found (intraepithelial, r = 0.50; dermal, r = 0.51; P < .01). These data suggest a pivotal role for perforin in triggering epithelial cell apoptosis. The differences of infiltrating cytotoxic cells and related AI observed in OLP and CLP are in keeping with the clinical behaviors that distinguish these LP variants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Brescia, Brescia Hospital, Italy.
authors.forename: Amerigo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Santoro
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Majorana
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bardellini
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gentili
authors.forename: Silvana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Festa
authors.forename: Pierluigi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sapelli
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Facchetti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017209:Apoptosis; D004249:DNA Damage; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded / Q000032:analysis; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D053804:Granzymes; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D017676:Lichen Planus, Oral / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D054353:Perforin; D052899:Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D052899:Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D054353:Perforin; C076751:TIAL1 protein, human; C509213:GZMB protein, human; D053804:Granzymes; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases