Significance Of TNF-α, TNFR Ⅰ, Fas, FasL And Granzyme B Expression In Oral Lichen Planus

Objective The objective of this study was to investigate the expression of tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-α) , tumor necrosis factor receptor I (TNFR I), Fas, FasL and granzyme B in oral lichen planus(OLP), and evaluate the relationship of TNF-a, TNFR I, Fas, FasL and granzyme B between the events of cell apoptosis in OLP.Methods Immunohistochemical technique was employed to study the expression of TNF-a, TNFR I, Fas, FasL and granzyme B in 50 OLP cases and 10 normal oral mucosa specimens. TUNEL was used for detecting the cell apoptotic index ( AI ) in 1 5 OLP cases. All OLP cases were divided into erosion-atrophy group( 20 cases ) and non-erosion group ( 30 cases ) according to their clinical feature.Results Compared with the control group, the increased AI of epithelial cells ( 18.04 ?.63) and the decreased AI of lymphocytes (7.12?.09) were found in OLP (P<0.05). The positive rate of TNFR I of epithelial cells was 36.00% in OLP which was remarkably higher than normal control (P<0.05). The positive rate of TNF-a, FasL, granzyme B of lymphocytes were 70.00%, 68.00%, 68.00% respectively, remarkably higher in OLP than in normal control (P<0.05), and significantly higher in erosion-atrophy group than in non-erosion group (P<0.05). Nevertheless, the positive rate of TNF-a of epithelial cells in OLP was 36.00% and the positive rate of TNFR I of lymphocytes in OLP was 22.00 % which were lower than control(P<0.05). Furthermore, there was a positive correlation between TNF-a, FasL, granzyme B expression of lymphocytes and AI of epithelial cells. The incidence of TNFR I expression of epithelial cells and lymphocytes were positively related to AI of themselves, on the other hand the incidence of TNF-a expression of lymphocytes was inversely related to AI of itself. There was a positive correlation between the expression of TNF-a and FasL of lymphocytes in OLP.Conclusion (1) There is a significant difference of cell apoptotic index between epithelial cells and lymphocytes in OLP. (2) TNF-a/TNFR I. Fas/FasL and granzyme B are related to the increased apoptosis index of epithelial cells in OLP, and the decreased apoptosis index of lymphocytes is related to the over expression of TNF-a and the less expression of TNFR I. (3) It is suggested that over expression of TNF-a, FasL and granzyme B in lymphocytes is related to the clinical feature of OLP. The positive rate of TNF-a, FasL, granzyme B of lymphocytes are significantly higher in erosion-atrophy group than in non-erosion group (4) There is a positive correlation between the expression of TNF-a and FasL of lymphocytes in OLP.