Expression of matrix metalloproteinase 9 in patients with oral lichen planus.
BACKGROUND
Oral Lichen planus (OLP) is chronic inflammatory oral mucosal disease of unknown etiology. Basement membrane damage and T-cell migration in OLP may be mediated by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). We examined the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 9 to support this hypothesis.


METHODS
The study population consisted of 71 patients with OLP and 10 control patients with oral fibromas. Indirect immunohistochemistry was used for detection of MMP 9 expression (polyclonal rabbit anti-human MMP antibody).


RESULTS
In all cases of OLP, the MMP-9 expression was seen mainly in the area oflymphocytic inflammatory infiltrate in the lamina propria including lymphocytes within the overlying epithelium. In addition, it was observed in the epithelial keratinocytes, particularly in the stratum basale and stratum spinosum with occasional positivity in the superficial layer. Fibroblasts and endothelium of small vessels in the lamina propria showed MMP9 expression as well. In all cases of oral mucosal fibromas, the MMP-9 expression was seen only in fibroblasts and in endothelium of small vessels with occasional positivity within the overlying epithelium. It remains unclear, whether MMP-9 is directly connected to OLP pathogenesis.
Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital in Hradec Králové, Czech Republic. vladimira.paulusova@fnhk.cz
Vladimíra
V
Paulusová
Jan
J
Laco
Ivo
I
Drízhal
Radovan
R
Slezák
D005350:Fibroma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D017676:Lichen Planus, Oral / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism*; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9