Oral lesions in lupus erythematosus-cytokines profiles of inflammatory infiltrate.

BACKGROUND

Lupus erythematosus (LE) is a chronic inflammatory disease. Presence of type 1 cytokines in cutaneous discoid lesions suggests that they may be critical for induction, development and maintenance of these manifestations. Type 2 cytokines in combination with local interferon gamma (INF-gamma) are thought to be related to the physiopathology of cutaneous LE. Cytokines profiles are still unknown in oral LE lesions.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Expression of Th1 and Th2 cytokines (including IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and INF- gamma was investigated and compared in 29 biopsies of intra-oral (sun-protected) and labial lesions (sun-exposed) of LE using immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

Inflammatory infiltrate of LE lesions was strongly positive for IFN- gamma (97%) and TNF-alpha (90%), both Th1 type cytokines. Interleukin-10, a Th2 cytokine was also strongly expressed. Other cytokines were only mildly positive. Cytokines patterns were similar in intra-oral (sun-covered) and labial (sun-exposed) LE lesions.

CONCLUSIONS

Oral LE lesions are associated with both type 1 and type 2 cytokines, characterized by stronger expression of INF- gamma, TNF- alpha and IL-10. These findings suggest that although ultraviolet (UV) light is involved in the induction of LE lesions, mechanisms of lesions formation may be similar in sun-exposed as well as sun-covered areas.