ISSN:
1600-0714
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Background: We investigated basement membrane (BM) disruption and the distribution of mast cells (MCs) and T cell subsets, in oral lichen planus (OLP) and normal buccal mucosa (NBM) using immunohistochemistry. In OLP, there were increased numbers of tryptase+ MCs in areas of BM disruption (P 〈 0.05).Method: We identified clusters of intraepithelial CD8+ T cells in OLP, specifically in regions of BM disruption. The number of intraepithelial CD8+ T cells in regions of BM disruption was significantly greater than in regions of BM continuity (P 〈 0.05).Results: There were comparable numbers of lamina propria CD8+ T cells in regions of BM disruption and BM continuity. The number of CD4+ T cells in the epithelium and lamina propria of OLP lesions did not vary between regions of BM disruption and BM continuity.Conclusion: These data suggest a role for MCs in epithelial BM disruption in OLP. CD8+ T cells may migrate through BM breaks to enter the OLP epithelium.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.0904-2512.2001.10063.x
