Intra-epithelial subpopulations of T lymphocytes and Langerhans cells in oral lichen planus

• Published in: Journal of oral pathology & medicine Vol. 27; no. 3; pp. 116 - 123
• Main Authors: Walton, L. J., Macey, M. G., Thornhill, M. H., Farthing, P. M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-03-1998; Blackwell
• Subjects: AIDS/HIV; Biological and medical sciences; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - pathology; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - pathology; Cell Count; Dendritic Cells - pathology; Dentistry; double immunofluorescence; Ent. Stomatology; Epithelium - pathology; Flow Cytometry; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Gene Expression Regulation; Humans; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 - analysis; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 - genetics; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Keratinocytes - pathology; Langerhans cells; Langerhans Cells - pathology; Leukocyte Common Antigens - analysis; lichen planus; Lichen Planus, Oral - blood; Lichen Planus, Oral - pathology; Lymphocyte Count; Medical sciences; Mouth Mucosa - pathology; oral; Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques; T lymphocytes; T-Lymphocyte Subsets - pathology; T-Lymphocytes - pathology; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer - pathology; Human; Flow cytometry; Stomatology; Exploration; Lichen planus; Oral cavity; Langerhans cell; Biopsy; T-Lymphocyte; Oral cavity disease; Immunofluorescence; Subtype; Quantitative analysis
• ISSN: 0904-2512; 1600-0714
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0714.1998.tb01926.x

This study has addressed the question of whether there is selective recruitment and distribution of intra‐epithelial leucocytes in lesions of oral lichen planus (OLP). T‐lymphocyte subsets were examined in the epithelium and peripheral blood of patients and controls using flow cytometry and double immunofluorescence, and the relationship between keratinocyte intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 (ICAM‐1) expression with T‐lymphocyte and Langerhans cell (LC) distribution was examined. The circulating ‘memory’subset (CD45RO+) of T‐helper cells (CD4+) was increased from 49.1% in controls to 65.7% in patients (P= 0.005), while the ‘naive’subset (CD45RA+), which was absent from control epithelium, comprised 24% of helper cells in OLP (P=0.037) and all T‐cell and LC counts were significantly raised in ICAM‐1‐expressing areas of epithelium. These data demonstrate changes in intra‐epithelial T‐lymphocyte and LC populations compared with normal oral mucosa and suggest there is selective recruitment in OLP. In addition, Keratinocyte ICAM‐1 expression does appear to be associated with accumulation of infiltrating T lymphocytes and LC.