ISSN:
1600-0560
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Background: Oral lichen planus (OLP) is characterized by a sub-epithelial lymphocytic infiltrate, basement membrane (BM) disruption, intra-epithelial T-cell migration and apoptosis of basal keratinocytes. BM damage and T-cell migration in OLP may be mediated by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs).Methods: We examined the distribution, activation and cellular sources of MMPs and their inhibitors (TIMPs) in OLP using immunohistochemistry, ELISA, RT-PCR and zymography.Results: MMP-2 and -3 were present in the epithelium while MMP-9 was associated with the inflammatory infiltrate. MMP-9 and TIMP-1 secretion by OLP lesional T cells was greater than OLP patient (p〈0.01) and healthy control subject (p〈0.001) peripheral blood T cells. MMP-9 and TIMP-1 mRNA levels were greater in OLP lesional T cells compared with healthy control subject peripheral blood T cells (p〈0.01). Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α upregulated OLP lesional T-cell MMP-9 (not TIMP-1) mRNA and secretion (p〈0.05). The in vitro activation rate of MMP-9 from OLP lesional T cells was greater than that from OLP peripheral blood T cells (p〈0.05).Conclusion: T-cell-derived MMP-9 may be involved in the pathogenesis of OLP. Relative over-expression of MMP-9 (compared with TIMP-1) may cause BM disruption and facilitate intra-epithelial T-cell migration in OLP.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1034/j.1600-0560.2001.280203.x
