engleski

Different cytolytic molecules are upregulated in lichen planus lesions

Introduction & Objectives Lichen planus is recognized as a T-cell- mediated disease histologically characterized by the formation of colloid bodies representing apoptotic keratinocytes. The apoptotic process mainly involves the perforin/granzyme and Fas/FasL pathway. In the present study we sought to determine whether cytotoxic T- lymphocytes, via the perforin and Fas/FasL cytolytic pathway, are responsible for apoptosis of epidermal cells in lichen planus. Material & Methods Skin biopsy specimens from lesional and non-lesional skin of 10 patients with lichen planus and 8 healthy persons were analysed by immunohistochemistry. Results The expression of perforin+ cells was significantly higher in lesional epidermis than in bothnon-lesional and healthy control epidermis. Hyaline colloid bodies, representing apoptotic keratinocytes, were observed in close proximity to perforin+ cells, suggesting active involvement of these cells in the process of apoptosis. The expression of FasL was significantly higher in the lesional compared with non-lesional and control skin. FasL+ cells were found in abundance suprabasally close to damaged basal keratinocytes. Conclusions Accumulation of perforin+ and FasL+ cells in lichen planus lesions suggests an active role of these cells in the apoptosis of basal keratinocytes, a hallmark of lichen planus.

lichen planus, FasL, perforin

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