involucrin and Lichen-Planus

Lichen striatus (LS) and linear lichen planus (LLP) are separate uncommon disorders belonging to linear inflammatory dermatoses. The immunotyping of inflammatory cells has been investigated in LS and lichen planus (LP), but epidermal proliferation and differentiation have little been described in LS and LLP.. The clinical and pathological data of eight patients with LS and seven with LLP were retrospectively collected. Immunotyping of infiltrated cells and expression of Ki-67, K16, involucrin, and filaggrin were stained by immunohistochemistry in skin lesions of these patients and normal skin of eight healthy controls.. Dermal infiltrates contained primarily CD3+ and CD68+ cells in three groups. CD4+ cells were predominantly located in the perivascular area, while CD8+ cells were frequently close to the junctional zone. Compared with control skin, epidermal and dermal CD1a+ cells, and dermal CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, and CD68+ cells were increased in LS and LLP (P < 0.05), while Ki-67+ cells were significantly high in LLP (P < 0.05) but not in LS. K16 and involucrin expression in LLP were more extensive than in LS, and filaggrin expression was similar between both entities.. Our results indicate that the predominance of CD8+ cells and increased epidermal proliferation and abnormal keratinization are present in both dermatoses, although the levels of the above indexes are mild in LS as compared to LLP. These two entities might be due to the interaction of infiltrated cells and keratinocytes, and CD8+ cells could play a pivotal role in their pathogenesis.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Antigens, CD; Cell Differentiation; Cell Proliferation; Child; Child, Preschool; Epidermis; Female; Filaggrin Proteins; Humans; Infant; Intermediate Filament Proteins; Keratin-16; Keratinocytes; Ki-67 Antigen; Lichen Planus; Lichenoid Eruptions; Male; Middle Aged; Protein Precursors; Retrospective Studies; T-Lymphocytes; Young Adult

In the present study, keratin and involucrin expression were studied in cutaneous lesions of discoid lupus erythematosus and lichen planus in order to gain a better understanding of the abnormal differentiation or maturation of the epidermal cells in these dermatoses. Ten specimens each from discoid lupus erythematosus and lichen planus were analyzed by immunohistochemical techniques, using a panel of monoclonal antikeratin antibodies and polyclonal anti-involucrin antibody, and five specimens each were analyzed by one- and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and immunoblot analysis using three antikeratin antibodies. No significant difference was found between the dermatoses. The expression of differentiation-specific keratins showed a similar pattern to that in normal epidermis, and involucrin was expressed even in the lower part of the stratum spinosum. Keratins 6 and 16, which are characteristic markers of hyperproliferative states, and keratin 17 were detected in nonhyperproliferative and atrophic epidermis with hydropic degeneration and inflammatory infiltrates in the dermis. These results suggest that expression of keratins 6, 16 and 17 in discoid lupus erythematosus and lichen planus may reflect a wound healing response to the damage to the basal cell layer, or may be under the control of cytokines produced by infiltrating inflammatory cells in the dermis.

Topics: Cell Differentiation; Cellular Senescence; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; Humans; Immunoblotting; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Keratins; Lichen Planus; Lupus Erythematosus, Discoid; Protein Precursors

The aim of this investigation was to assess the reproducibility of a study which reported that involucrin could be used as a diagnostic marker in oral lichenoid lesions. Twenty-eight formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens were examined. They included tissue from 13 patients with lichen planus, 11 with drug-related lichenoid reactions, one with dysplasia in a lichenoid lesion and three with normal oral mucosa. In each case the biopsy site was the buccal mucosa, PAS stained smears for fungi were negative and immunofluorescence results supported the diagnosis. An immunoperoxidase technique was used to demonstrate involucrin reactivity. In all sections there was consistent positive staining for involucrin in the superficial layers of the epithelium and all the basal layers were negative. In conclusion there were no demonstrable differences in the involucrin reactivity between the different lesions.

Topics: Epithelium; Humans; Lichen Planus; Mouth Diseases; Mouth Mucosa; Protein Precursors; Staining and Labeling

Thirty-eight biopsy specimens were examined for involucrin reactivity by an immunoperoxidase technique. The sampling consisted of specimens diagnosed as normal oral mucosa, reactive epithelial hyperplasia, lichen planus (LP), nonspecific lichenoid stomatitis (NLS), lichenoid dysplasia (LD), carcinoma in situ, and squamous cell carcinoma (SCCa) on routine hematoxylin and eosin examination. Findings were consistent with prior observations of involucrin reactivity in skin and cervical-vaginal mucosa. Specifically, conditions characterized by predominance of mature squamous epithelial cells (superficial layers of normal and hyperplastic oral epithelium, NLS, and LP) exhibited strong involucrin reactivity in such areas. In contrast, atypical or dysplastic lichenoid lesions (LD), as well as carcinoma in situ, despite squamoid differentiation, demonstrated irregular distribution of involucrin, suggesting disturbances in terminal differentiation. Invasive components of SCCa revealed markedly diminished involucrin expression. These findings support prior evidence that LP and LD are biologically distinct lesions. Clinically and microscopically, both may be morphologically similar. However, involucrin reactivity should be helpful in distinguishing difficult cases. Accordingly, we suggest that the use of involucrin immunoreactivity may prove to be a valuable adjunct in the separation of similar lichenoid oral conditions.

Topics: Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Diagnosis, Differential; Humans; Hyperplasia; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Lichen Planus; Mouth Diseases; Mouth Mucosa; Mouth Neoplasms; Protein Precursors; Stomatitis

The immunoperoxidase method for involucrin detection was applied to the study of the maturation of epithelial lesions of the oral mucosa that included specimens of leukoplakia, lichen planus, verrucous carcinoma, carcinoma in situ and invasive carcinoma. Areas of orthokeratinized, parakeratinized, and non-keratinized normal mucosa were also studied. Normal orthokeratinized epithelia showed intracytoplasmic or pericellular staining in the suprabasal epithelial layers in a pattern similar to that of the normal epidermis. Parakeratinized and non-keratinized epithelia were less stained. Intense staining was observed in leukoplakia, whereas the staining of lichen planus was less intense but exhibited a more homogeneous pericellular staining pattern than leukoplakia. Verrucous carcinoma was markedly and very irregularly stained. Carcinomas in situ and invasive carcinoma exhibited a slightly positive and patchy reaction. The distribution patterns of involucrin in the lesions correlated very well with the degree of epithelial differentiation. In addition, irregular patchy distribution correlated with the degree of atypia, and was especially evident in carcinomas.

Topics: Carcinoma; Carcinoma in Situ; Carcinoma, Papillary; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Leukoplakia, Oral; Lichen Planus; Mouth Diseases; Mouth Mucosa; Mouth Neoplasms; Protein Precursors