title: Perforin and granzyme B expression in oral and cutaneous lichen planus - a comparative study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although cutaneous and oral lichen planus (LP) share similar histopathological features, oral LP often follows a recalcitrant course while LP skin lesions tend to be self-limiting. Apoptosis, mediated by cytotoxic T-cells in LP, may be triggered by the release of molecules such as perforin and granzyme B. As variation in clinical behavior can reflect differences in LP immune expression, we studied the role of those cytotoxic molecules in oral and cutaneous LP.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed 16 cases of cutaneous LP and 29 of oral LP. The sections were studied on hematoxylin and eosin, CD4, CD8, perforin and granzyme B staining.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean number of immunostained cells expressing each cytotoxic molecule was significantly higher in oral LP than in cutaneous LP. A higher number of single necrotic keratinocytes (apoptotic bodies) was found in oral LP lesions when compared to cutaneous LP. Only in oral LP lesions, a higher number of CD4-positive cells was found in active lesions when compared to regressive lesions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results confirm increased expression of granzyme B and perforin in oral LP lesions as compared to cutaneous LP. The increased expression suggests a relationship with the clinical behavior of the disease.
authors: Pathology Department, Medical School, UNICAMP, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Denise
authors: D
authors: Lage
authors: Vanessa N
authors: VN
authors: Pimentel
authors: Tania C B
authors: TC
authors: Soares
authors: Elemir M
authors: EM
authors: Souza
authors: Konradin
authors: K
authors: Metze
authors: Maria L
authors: ML
authors: Cintra
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D053804:Granzymes / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D017676:Lichen Planus, Oral / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D054353:Perforin / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D054353:Perforin; C509213:GZMB protein, human; D053804:Granzymes