No differences in caspase-3 and Bax expression in atrophic-erosive vs. reticular oral lichen planus.
BACKGROUND
Caspase-3 (CPP32) and Bax expression levels in oral lichen planus (OLP) lesions are considered reliable markers of apoptosis. The malignant transformation of OLP remains a very controversial matter. The objective of this study was to compare histological and apoptotic phenomena between atrophic-erosive and reticular forms of OLP.


METHODS
Analysis was conducted of biopsy samples from 18 patients with reticular and 14 with atrophic-erosive OLP. Conventional histology techniques were used to quantify histological markers of OLP and peroxidase/anti-peroxidase techniques to determine apoptosis markers caspase-3 (CPP32) and Bax.


RESULTS
More Civatte bodies and lymphocyte exocytosis were observed in atrophic-erosive than reticular OLP samples, without any statistical difference. No statistical significant differences in caspase-3 expression were found between these OLP forms in suprabasal layer (58.3% vs. 43.8%), basal layer (83.3% vs. 68.8%) or infiltrate (69.2% vs. 46.6%). Bax expression was relatively infrequent, and no differences were observed between atrophic-erosive and reticular forms.


CONCLUSIONS
The low frequency of apoptotic phenomena (caspase-3 and Bax) in epithelial cells of OLP may create a favourable substrate for malignant transformation. However, there does not seem to be an association with the clinical form (atrophic-erosive or reticular).
Bascones-Ilundain
C
C
School of Dentistry, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
González-Moles
M A
MA
Campo-Trapero
J
J
Gil-Montoya
J A
JA
Esparza-Gómez
G C
GC
Cano-Sánchez
J
J
Bascones-Martínez
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017209:Apoptosis; D001706:Biopsy; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017676:Lichen Planus, Oral / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000378:metabolism*
D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D053148:Caspase 3