title: [Expressions of Fas/FasL and granzyme B in oral lichen planus and their significance].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To define the association of the expressions of Fas/FasL and granzyme B with cell apoptosis in oral lichen planus (OLP) and progression of the disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Immunohistochemical method and TUNEL were employed to study the expressions of Fas, FasL and granzyme B and cell apoptosis in 50 OLP cases (including 20 cases of atrophic-erosive OLP and 30 nonerosive OLP cases) and 10 normal oral mucosa specimens.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the control group, the OLP cases showed increased apoptotic index (AI, 95.32+/-28.99) in the epithelial layer and the decreased AI (35.12+/-9.89) in the lamina propria (P<0.05), with the apoptotic cells confined within the basal or suprabasal cell layer instead of the superficial cell layer in the control group. The positivity rates of FasL and granzyme B expression were both 68/ in the lamina propria of the OLP cases, remarkably higher than those in the normal control group (P<0.05); significantly higher rates were noted in atrophic-erosive than in nonerosive OLP cases (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The AI significantly differs between the epithelial layer and lamina propria in OLP cases, for which the expressions of Fas, FasL and granzyme B might be held responsible. The over-expressions of FasL and granzyme B are closely related to the progression of OLP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Stomatology, Medical College of Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China. liz1113@163.com
authors.forename: Li-jia
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ruan
authors.forename: Fang-fang
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Tong
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D053804:Granzymes / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D017676:Lichen Planus, Oral / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D019014:fas Receptor; D053804:Granzymes