T-cell subpopulations in lesions of oral lichen planus.

AIM OF THE STUDY To determine the distribution and frequency of T(CD3) cells and cell sub-populations in tissue specimens of erosive lichen planus (EOLP). MATERIAL AND METHOD Tissue specimens from buccal mucosa were taken from 14 healthy individuals--control group (CG)--and 17 subjects with EF-OLP. Applying monoclonal antibodies, T(CD3) cells, T cell subpopulations, The CD4, CD8 and CD4/CD8 ratios in both groups were determined. Cells in the epithelium and lamina propria were quantitatively and qualitatively determined in both groups. Data were analysed using the Student's t-test. RESULTS There were 5.95 2.12% T(CD3) cells in the control group as against 9.80 4.04% in the examined group (p<0.001). The distribution of T(CD3) cells in the lamina propria was 25.35 12.04% in the examined group compared to the control group (p<0.001). There were 3.45 2.05% CD4 epithelial cells in the control group and 4.00 1.95% in the examined group (p<0.4). There were 2.50 1.8% CD8 cells in the control group and 5.80 3.72% in the examined group (p<0.001). The CD4/CD8 ratio was 0.51 0.12% in the examined group and it was evidently reduced in comparison with the control group. An increased distribution of CD4 cells (10.30 7.60%) and CD8 cells (15.05 5.20%) in the lamina propria compared with the epithelium was observed in the examined group (p<0.001). The CD4/CD8 ratio in the epithelium was 0.51 0.12% as against the ratio of the lamina propria, which was slightly increased (0.68 0.48%) with a low statistically significant difference (p<0.05). CONCLUSION Differences in the distribution of T-lymphocyte subsets between the control and examined groups were found (p<0.001). An increased distribution and frequency of CD4 and CD8 cells in the lamina propria was observed. These were predominantly located in the sub-basal region of the stratum papillare and rarely seen in the intra-epithelial region.