Abstract
Human β defensin 2 (hBD-2) is an antimicrobial peptide produced by epithelial cells. Oral keratinocytes also produced hBD-2, however, there have been few reports on the role of hBD-2 in oral lichen planus (OLP). In this study, we investigated hBD-2 expression in the lesion of OLP immunohistochemically, and compared the staining pattern in relation to clinico-pathological features. In 43% (13/30), strong positive staining in the suprabasal and spinous layers was observed (widely stained areas: WS type). In the remaining 57%, positive staining was limited in the granular and keratinized cell layers (limited stained areas: LS type). In WS type, the percentage of erosive type was higher than that in LS type. The amount of submucosal lymphocytes infiltration in WS type was more than that in LS type. These results suggest that hBD-2 is strongly induced by OLP related inflammation, and hBD-2 may play an important role in the prevention of microbial infection at the OLP lesion.
