title: Assessment of Langerhans cells in oral lichen planus by ATPase histochemistry: a clinicopathologic correlation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the distribution pattern of Langerhans cells in oral lichen planus using adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) histochemistry and to correlate this with the duration of symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Included were fresh unfixed tissues from previously untreated cases that were clinically and histologically diagnosed as oral lichen planus (n=18). Healthy oral mucosal tissues were used as controls (n=5). ATPase activity in the Langerhans cells from the tissue samples was assessed by enzyme histochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The difference in the distribution pattern of Langerhans cells in the superficial and basal half of the epithelium in both the lesional and control tissue was significant (P<.001, Mann-Whitney U test). With an increase in duration of symptoms, the median migration of cells from superficial position to the basal half was significant (P=.001, Kruskal-Wallis test). A negative correlation (Pearson correlation coefficient) was seen between duration of symptoms and migration of cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The initial increase in the number of Langerhans cells in the lesional tissues compared to controls suggests that these cells are critically required for both the initiation and progression of the mucosal immune response in oral lichen planus. Variation in their number and distribution bear clinical importance as objective assessment of long-standing lesions could be made with reference to treatment planning.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal University, Manipal, India.
authors.forename: Arushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pandey
authors.forename: Suhas
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Setty
authors.forename: Raghavendra
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: Raghu
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Radhakrishnan
mesh_terms: D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases / Q000032:analysis*; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002452:Cell Count; D002465:Cell Movement; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D017676:Lichen Planus, Oral / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases