Survival signalling in keratinocytes of erythematous oral lichen planus.
BACKGROUND
Keratinocytes in oral lichen (OL) planus have been shown to be exposed to potentially cell death-inducing factors such as tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and FasL, produced by the cells of the inflammatory infiltrate and by the keratinocytes themselves. Mostly, however, the lesions do not show ulceration, the clinical manifestation of substantial keratinocyte death. The aim of this study was to find support for the contention that there is activation of protecting anti-apoptotic mechanisms in keratinocytes in a form of chronic OL (erythematous OL; ERY OL), simultaneously with the pathological cell death signals.


METHODS
Biopsies from patients with normal oral mucosa (NOM) or with ERY OL were compared by immunohistological staining.


RESULTS
In ERY OL keratinocytes, both the pro-apoptotic FADD and the anti-apoptotic molecules p-IKK, NF-kappaB/p50, FLIP(L), cIAP-1 and cIAP-2 were strongly upregulated when compared with NOM. There were no significant differences in the staining patterns for active caspase-3 and caspase-8 with only few positive cells for both enzymes.


CONCLUSIONS
The presently observed marked increase in expression of anti-apoptotic molecules in ERY OL epithelium may counteract the pro-apoptotic assault and rescue the epithelium from rampant cell death and thereby clinical ulceration.
Karatsaidis
Andreas
A
Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
Hayashi
Katsuhiko
K
Schreurs
Olav
O
Helgeland
Kristen
K
Schenck
Karl
K
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D053446:CASP8 and FADD-Like Apoptosis Regulating Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D053181:Caspase 8 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000502:physiology; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D053418:Death Domain Receptor Signaling Adaptor Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D053200:Fas-Associated Death Domain Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D051550:I-kappa B Kinase / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D017676:Lichen Planus, Oral / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015398:Signal Transduction
D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D053446:CASP8 and FADD-Like Apoptosis Regulating Protein; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D053418:Death Domain Receptor Signaling Adaptor Proteins; D053200:Fas-Associated Death Domain Protein; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D016328:NF-kappa B; C111027:NKRF protein, human; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D051550:I-kappa B Kinase; D053148:Caspase 3; D053181:Caspase 8