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Intra‐epithelial CD8 + T cells and basement membrane disruption in oral lichen planus
Author(s) -
Zhou Xijing J.,
Sugerman Philip B.,
Savage Neil W.,
Walsh Laurence J.,
Seymour Gregory J.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of oral pathology and medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.887
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1600-0714
pISSN - 0904-2512
DOI - 10.1046/j.0904-2512.2001.10063.x
Subject(s) - lamina propria , oral lichen planus , epithelium , basement membrane , cd8 , pathology , biology , chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , immunology , antigen , medicine
Abstract 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.