muramidase and Lichen-Planus

Topics: Herpes Simplex; Herpes Zoster; Humans; Lichen Planus; Muramidase; Stomatitis, Aphthous; Virus Diseases

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Bacitracin; Cheilitis; Child; Clinical Trials as Topic; Female; Gingivitis; Gingivitis, Necrotizing Ulcerative; Glossitis; Humans; Lichen Planus; Male; Middle Aged; Mouth Diseases; Muramidase; Papain; Salivary Gland Diseases; Stomatitis; Stomatitis, Aphthous; Tooth Extraction

Twenty patients with clinically and microscopically confirmed lichen planus were studied immunohistochemically. Monoclonal antibody to HLA-DR antigens and polyclonal antisera to S-100 protein and muramidase were applied to paraffin-embedded sections for the purpose of elaborating on the pathogenesis of this disease. Trypsin incubation of sections was also done in order to determine its effect on immunostaining. Langerhans cells were identified with anti-S-100 and anti-HLA-DR, and macrophages were identified with antimuramidase and anti-HLA-DR. Keratinocytes also expressed HLA-DR membrane activity in lichen planus tissue. Trypsinization significantly improved the expression of S-100 protein and muramidase antigens. It was concluded that Langerhans cells, macrophages, and keratinocytes play important roles in antigen processing and/or phagocytosis during the natural history of this disease.

Topics: Follow-Up Studies; Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; Histocytochemistry; HLA-DR Antigens; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Langerhans Cells; Lichen Planus; Macrophages; Mouth Diseases; Mouth Mucosa; Muramidase; S100 Proteins; Staining and Labeling; Trypsin

Macrophages may be distinguished from interdigitating cells and from Langerhans cells in paraffin sections, the latter cells being positive when an antiserum against brain S-100 protein is used. This antiserum was utilized to conduct a retrospective analysis of 10 cases of lichen planus, including both early and late lesions. In addition, staining of macrophages was carried out by means of anti-lysozyme, anti-alpha-1-antitrypsin and anti-alpha-1-antichymotrypsin. The anti-S-100 protein staining by immunoperoxidase methods showed large numbers of positive cells. Few macrophages were noted in the early lesions, but the ratios were reversed in the older lesions, in which macrophages predominated over dermal S-100-positive cells. Both Langerhans cells-interdigitating cells and macrophages could play important roles in various cutaneous disorders. The involvement of Langerhans cells-interdigitating cells or, on the other hand, of macrophages could distinguish among different pathological processes. Even in different evolutionary stages of the same lesion, as lichen planus, a different Langerhans cells-interdigitating cells/macrophages ratio could be important in explaining the pathogenetic development of the disease.

Topics: Antibodies; Antigen-Presenting Cells; Cell Separation; Humans; Immune Sera; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Lichen Planus; Macrophages; Muramidase; S100 Proteins; Time Factors

The presence and distribution of macrophages within 15 non-ulcerated lesions of oral lichen planus was investigated using an immunoperoxidase technique for the detection of the macrophage markers lysozyme and alpha 1 antitrypsin. All specimens contained mononuclear lysozyme and alpha 1 antitrypsin positive cells which were concentrated in a band immediately beneath the epithelium and often associated with areas of damaged basal cells. Cell counts revealed that 11% of the positive cells were in the epithelium and 89% in the lamina propria. Approximately 61% of all positive cells were found within a 125 micron wide zone centred on the basement membrane. These results suggest that in oral lichen planus macrophages are in close proximity to the epithelial basal cells, where cell damage occurs, and play a role in the pathogenesis of this condition.

Topics: alpha 1-Antitrypsin; Cell Count; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Lichen Planus; Macrophages; Mouth Diseases; Muramidase