Abstract
In order to clarify the epithelial intercellular junctions in oral lichen planus (OLP), we investigated immunolocalization of desmosomal cadherins, including desmoglein 1, 2 (Dsg1 and Dsg2) and desmocollin 1, 3 (Dsc1 and Dsc3) that are adhesion molecules in desmosomes. The sections of the tissues obtained from 15 cases of OLP were examined by immunohistochemistry. Immunolocalization of Dsg1 has been shown in the basal and spinous layers, and has remarkably decreased in the cases with moderate liquefaction degeneration in the basal cell layers or the inflammatory cells infiltration in the lamina propria. Dsg2 were present in the basal cell layers, Dsc1 in the spinous upper layers irregularly in the hyperkeratinized lesions, and Dsc3 in the basal and spinous layers. These results suggest that localization of Dsg1 decrease in the spinous layers due to liquefaction degeneration in the basal cell layers and inflammatory cells infiltration in the lamina propia, while localization of Dsg2, Dsc1, and Dsc3 increase in hyperkeratinized tissues. Thus, the change of desmosomal cadherin in OLP might lead to the change of cell-to-cell adhesion.
