Participation of the Th17 response in the pathogenesis of oral lichen planus

Abstract

Lichen planus is a chronic noninfectious inflammatory mucocutaneous disease that affects the skin, nails and mucosae, including the oral mucosa.¹ Although the etiology of oral liquen planus (OLP) remains not fully elucidated, it is recognized that its pathogenesis arises from an immune-mediated response and many authors suggest the disease to be an autoimmune process.^2-5 Despite the high prevalence and well-defined cytotoxic activity of CD8+ T lymphocytes against keratinocytes of the basal layer of the epithelium in OLP, helper CD4+ T lymphocytes also play an important role in the pathogenesis of this disease.⁶

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