title: Expression of CD1a by Langerhan's Cells in Oral Lichen Planus - A Retrospective Analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Langerhan's Cells (LCs) are dendritic cells of the oral epithelium which play a role in a series of oral lesions from gingivitis to oral cancer. Oral Lichen Planus (OLP) is an oral mucosal T-lymphocyte mediated immunologic reaction to an unidentified putative antigen or allergen.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to quantify the presence of immature LCs in OLP comparing them with normal epithelium.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study using 30 of OLP cases were conducted. Immunohistochemistry was performed using polyclonal anti-CD1a antibodies to identify LCs in 10 cases of normal tissue and 30 samples of OLP. The distribution of LCs among lesional tissue and normal mucosa was analysed using Mann-Whitney U test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  LC population in OLP was significantly higher when compared to the normal epithelium (p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The increase in LCs indicates the active role played during the antigen detection in OLP and subsequent presentation to T-lymphocytes.
authors: Senior Lecturer, Department of Oral Pathology, Malla Reddy Institute of Dental Sciences , Hyderabad, Telangana, India .
authors: Ganesh
authors: G
authors: Kulkarni
authors: Senior Lecturer, Department of Oral Pathology, Meghana Institute of Dental sciences , Nizamabad, Telangana, India .
authors: Esther Priyadarshini
authors: EP
authors: Sakki
authors: Associate Professor, Department of Public Health Dentistry, MNR Dental College and Hospital , Sangareddy, Telangana, India .
authors: Yennavaram Vijay
authors: YV
authors: Kumar
authors: Assistant Professor, Department of Periodontics, Government Dental College and Research Institute , VIMS, Bellary, Karnataka, India .
authors: Sadananda
authors: S
authors: Kolimi
authors: Senior Lecturer, Department of Oral Pathology, Malla Reddy Institute of Dental Sciences , Hyderabad, Telangana, India .
authors: Ravi
authors: R
authors: Perika
authors: Senior Lecturer, Department of Oral Pathology, SVS Institute of Dental Sciences , Mahbubnagar, Telangana, India .
authors: Kalepu Venkata
authors: KV
authors: Karthik
authors: Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, Malla Reddy Institute of Medical Sciences , Hyderabad, Telangana, India .
authors: Kandukuri Mahesh
authors: KM
authors: Kumar
authors: Reader, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Mamatha Dental College , Khammam, Telangana, India .
authors: Venumbaka Siva
authors: VS
authors: Kalyan
keywords: Antigen presentation; Antigens; Dendritic cells; Mouth mucosa