title: MMPs, TIMP-2, and TGF-beta1 in the cancerization of oral lichen planus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) are important in many physiological and pathological processes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Immunohistochemistry for MMP-2, MMP-9, membrane-type 1 MMP (MT1-MMP, MMP-14), tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP)-2, and TGF-beta were performed on normal mucosa, nonatrophic oral lichen planus, atrophic oral lichen planus, and oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC) resulting from lichen planus.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Expression of MMPs progressively increased from normal mucosa to nonatrophic oral lichen planus, atrophic oral lichen planus, and OSCCs. Immunoscores of MMPs in atrophic oral lichen planus was significantly greater than nonatrophic oral lichen planus. Moreover, immunoscore of MMP-9 of OSCCs was significantly greater than both atrophic and nonatrophic lichen planus. Furthermore, expression of TIMP-2 and TGF-beta1 paralleled increases seen with MMPs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Imbalance between MMPs and TIMPs may be involved in cancerization of oral lichen planus. MMP-2, MT1-MMP, and especially MMP-9 may be useful markers for judging potency of malignant transformation from oral lichen planus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, West China College of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Weiping
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Geng
authors.forename: Kun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Lester
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jack Windsor
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017676:Lichen Planus, Oral / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D045726:Metalloproteases / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D011336:Probability; D011379:Prognosis; D012016:Reference Values; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D016207:Cytokines; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D045726:Metalloproteases