Codon72 polymorphism in the p53 tumor suppressor gene in oral lichen planus lesions in a Thai population.
BACKGROUND
Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a T-cell mediated autoimmune disease in which autocytotoxic CD8+ T cells (CTLs) trigger apoptosis of oral epithelial cells. Activated CTLs can produce Fas ligand and by binding to Fas lead to apoptosis. This Fas pathway and the action of p53 tumour suppressor gene are important in producing apoptosis. Current data demonstrate a link between these two factors at the transcriptional level.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to investigate the p53 polymorphism at codon 72 which results in encoding of either proline or arginine.


METHODS
Our study used 97 OLP cases and 94 control blood samples from non-OLP individuals and performed PCR-RFLP.


RESULTS
Compared to control individuals, we found a significant increase in occurrence in OLP patients of the proline encoding cytosine allele (adjusted odd ratio (95% CI)=2.29 (1.42-3.70) and p=0.001). In addition, in individuals with the non-erosive type of OLP, the same situation was evident (OR=2.29, 95% CI (1.38-3.78), p=0.001). Furthermore, we noted a significantly higher prevalence of homozygosity [OR=3.17, 95% CI(1.58-7.25), p=0.001) for the p53 pro allele in the OLP group, which indicates a recessive mode of inheritance.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggest a strong association between the pro/pro genotype and OLP, and that the process of apoptosis, in which p53 plays a role, is a factor in OLP pathogenesis.
Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand. simbj@mahidol.ac.th
Pattamawadee
P
Yanatatsaneeji
Nakarin
N
Kitkumthorn
Chutintorn
C
Dhammawipark
Jierada
J
Rabalert
Vyomesh
V
Patel
Apiwat
A
Mutirangura
D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D005260:Female; D016158:Genes, p53; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D017676:Lichen Planus, Oral / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D012307:Risk Factors; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology
D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53