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Labelling index in the mucosal lesions of lichen planus
Author(s) -
WALKER D. M.,
DOLBY A. E.
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
british journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.304
H-Index - 179
eISSN - 1365-2133
pISSN - 0007-0963
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2133.1974.tb12943.x
Subject(s) - labelling , epithelium , pathology , mitotic index , basal (medicine) , lesion , biology , mitosis , connective tissue , medicine , endocrinology , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry , insulin
SUMMARY The labelling indices of the epithelium of the lesions of oral lichen planus (LP) have been estimated, using in vitro labelling with tritiated thymidine. The relationship between this epithelial labeling index and the underlying inflammatory cell density was also examined. The total labelling activity in the LP lesion was comparable with that of normal mucosa but was redistributed as follows. The labelling index of the basal epithelial layer was increased above that of normal controls and the labeling in the suprabasal layer was decreased. Thus 50% of mitoses occur basally in involved atrophic LP epithelium. The implications of this redistribution of mitotic activity are discussed. The labelling index of epithelium was reduced where the inflammatory cell density was exceptionally high, but no simple inverse relationship between labelling index and inflammatory cell density was apparent. This supports the concept that the primary event in lichen planus seems to occur in the basal epithehal layer followed by an inflammatory cell response in the underlying connective tissue. Subsequent secondary damage to the epithelium, including inhibition of mitosis, may be produced by this inflammatory infiltrate only if it is very dense.