CD27 and CD38 lymphocytes are detected in oral lichen planus lesions.
OBJECTIVE
Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic disease with bandlike lymphocyte infiltration.


METHODS
To elucidate the immunologic phenotype of OLP, we analyzed the presence of CD5(+), CD20(+), CD27(+) and/or CD38(+) lymphocytes in a series of 70 atrophic OLP biopsy samples.


RESULTS
CD27(+) and CD38(+) cells were present in 84% and 54% of the lesions, respectively. The lesions were graded as T-cell dominant, B-cell dominant, or a mixed lesion based on CD5(+) and CD20(+) cells in the inflammatory infiltration with the following results: 26%, 7%, and 67%, respectively. CD27 expression was found in 67% of the T-cell dominant, in 80% of the B-cell dominant, and in 91% of mixed lesions. The corresponding figures for CD38 were 72%, 80%, and 62%.


CONCLUSIONS
CD27(+) and CD38(+) lymphocytes represent abnormal mononuclear cell populations in atrophic OLP lesions indicating 2 forms of OLP might exist with different pathogenesis, despite similar histology and clinical behavior.
Department of Oral Pathology and Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Dentistry, University of Turku, Turku, Finland. riikka.mattila@utu.fi
Riikka
R
Mattila
Eva
E
Ahlfors
Stina
S
Syrjänen
D051997:ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D016175:B-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D017676:Lichen Planus, Oral / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D018127:Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 7 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*
D015703:Antigens, CD; D018127:Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 7; D051997:ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1