MMPs, TIMP-2, and TGF-beta1 in the cancerization of oral lichen planus.
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.
Chen
Yu
Y
Department of Oral Pathology, West China College of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Zhang
Weiping
W
Geng
Ning
N
Tian
Kun
K
Jack Windsor
Lester
L
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*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D016207:Cytokines; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D045726:Metalloproteases