Expressions of Caspaseª²3, TNFª²¦Á and TNFR¦© and their relationship with cell apoptosis in oral lichen planus

    YAO Xi, SHEN Liª²Jia, YIN Cao, XIE Siª²Ming

    Department of Stomatology, Medical College, Ji¬ðnan University, Guangzhou 510632, China, Stomatological Hospital of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou 510280, China

    ¡¾Abstract¡¿ AIM: To examine the expressions and distribution of Caspaseª²3, TNFª²¦Á and TNFR¦© and their relationship to apoptosis in oral lichen planus (OLP). METHODS: Immunohistochemical staining with SP method and TUNEL technique were used to detect the expressions of Caspaseª²3, TNFª²¦Á and TNFR¦© in 33 cases of OLP and 7 cases of normal oral mucosa specimens (the controls). RESULTS: Compared with the controls, OLP was increased in apoptosis index (AI) of epithelial cells and decreased in AI of lymphocytes (both P<0.05). The expression of Caspaseª²3 in all OLP cases was significantly higher than that in the normal group both in the epithelial layer and in the lamina propria (P<0.025). Compared with that in the normal group, TNFª²¦Á expression in all OLP cases was decreased in the epithelial layer and increased in the lamina propria (both P<0.025), while TNFR¦© expression was increased in the epithelial layer and decreased in the lamina propria in all OLP cases (both P<0.025). TNFª²¦Á expression was significantly increased in the lamina propria in the erosion group compared with the nonª²erosion group (P<0.05). A positive correlation was observed between Caspaseª²3 expression and AI in the epithelial cells (r=0.631, P<0.05). However, there was no significant correlation between Caspaseª²3 expression and AI in lymphocytes (P>0.05). Expressions of TNFª²¦Á and TNFRI were significantly correlated to AI both in the epithelial layer and in the lamina propria. CONCLUSION: The accelerated apoptosis of keratinocytes and the inhibition of lymphocyte apoptosis may coexist in OLP, which may contribute to the formation and progression of OLP. ......