Immunohistochemical Investigation of Expression of urokinase-type Plasminogen Activator (uPA), uPA Receptor (uPAR), and Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMP-2, MMP-3 and MMP-9) in Oral Lichen Planus

Abstract

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is thought to be a a T-cell-mediated chronic inflammatory oral mucosal disease. The damage of basement membrane and tissue remodeling in lesions of OLP may be mediated by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and uPA-receptor (uPAR).
We have immunohistochemically ascertained the localization of cells expressing uPA,uPAR, and MMPs (-2, -3 and-9).
While uPA was expressed from the prickle-cell layer to the basal layer, uPAR was expressed mainly by macrophages, and in limited areas of cell membranes from the prickle-cell layer of OLP epithelial tissue to the basal cell layer. The expression of MMPs (-2, -3) mostly matches expression of uPA. MMP-9 was expressed in areas of basal layer where denaturation and destruction were strong.
These results show the relevance of inflammatory changes in OLP epithelial tissue and expression of uPA, uPAR, and MMPs(-2, -3 and -9).