Expression of TGF-beta1, Smad7 and cell apoptosis in epithelium of oral lichen planus.
- Author:
Zuo-Liang CHEN
1
;
Guan-Hong DENG
;
Hong-Bai CHEN
;
Jun CHENG
Author Information
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH: Apoptosis; Case-Control Studies; Epithelium; metabolism; pathology; Female; Humans; Lichen Planus, Oral; metabolism; Male; Mouth Mucosa; metabolism; pathology; Smad7 Protein; metabolism; Transforming Growth Factor beta1; metabolism
- From: Chinese Journal of Stomatology 2008;43(2):95-98
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVETo examine the expression of TGF-beta1, Smad7 and cell apoptosis in oral lichen planus (OLP) and to evaluate the possible pathogenesis of oral lichen planus.
METHODSImmunohistochemical technique was used to study the expression of TGF-beta1 and Smad7 in the epithelia cells of 17 OLP cases and 7 normal oral mucosa (NOM). TUNEL was used for detecting the cell apoptosis in 17 OLP cases and 7 NOM.
RESULTSTGF-beta1 was moderately positive in the epithelia cells of OLP. All the epithelia cells in OLP showed strong cytoplasmic staining. The expression of TGF-beta1 and Smad7 were significantly increased in OLP compared with that in NOM (P < 0.05). Cell apoptotic index (AI) was remarkably increased in epithelia cells in OLP cases, and the cell apoptosis was localized in basal and suprabasal epithelial layers. There was a positive correlation between TGF-beta1 expression and cell apoptosis in the epithelia of OLP (r = 0.69, P <0.05).
CONCLUSIONSHigh expression of TGF-beta1 and Smad7 in the epithelia of OLP suggests that TGF-beta1-Smad7 signal pathway was disturbed in oral lichen planus. The imbalance of TGF-beta1-Smad7 pathway may contribute to the mechanisms of cell apoptosis of epithelial cells in OLP.
