Expression of TNF-alpha in oral lichen planus treated with fluocinolone acetonide 0.1%.
BACKGROUND
Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a common chronic inflammatory disease involving T cells-mediated immunity. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha has been reported to be involved in the disease process. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of fluocinolone acetonide in orabase (FAO) 0.1% on the expression of TNF-alpha in patients with OLP.


METHODS
Eighteen Thai patients with atrophic or erosive OLP were recruited. Biopsy specimens were taken before and 1 month after treatment with FAO 0.1% and sent for histopathologic examination where they were immunohistochemically stained with antibody to TNF-alpha. Twenty normal mucosa specimens were identically processed. Oral squamous cell carcinoma tissue was used as a positive control for TNF-alpha expression, whereas OLP sections without primary antibody were served as negative control.


RESULTS
Sixteen of 18 cases (88.89%) of OLP exhibited positive staining for TNF-alpha. Most of the TNF-alpha was observed in the mononuclear cells. Ten cases (55.56%) of OLP demonstrated TNF-alpha expression in keratinocytes. The number of mononuclear cells positive for TNF-alpha before the treatment with FAO 0.1% in orabase was statistically higher than that after the treatment (P=0.000) and in the normal mucosa (P=0.000). Moreover, the number of mononuclear cells after treatment with FAO 0.1% in orabase was statistically lower than before the treatment (P=0.000).


CONCLUSIONS
Our study exhibited that TNF-alpha may be associated with the immunopathogenesis of OLP in Thai patients and FAO 0.1% had an effect on the reduction of TNF-alpha expression.
Thongprasom
Kobkan
K
Oral Medicine Department, Faculty of Dentistry, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand. tkobkan@netserv.chula.ac.th
Dhanuthai
Kittipong
K
Sarideechaigul
Wilairat
W
Chaiyarit
Ponlatham
P
Chaimusig
Mantharop
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002266:Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005446:Fluocinolone Acetonide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D017676:Lichen Planus, Oral / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D005446:Fluocinolone Acetonide; C056627:Orabase; D002266:Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium