[The over-expression of STAT1 and IFN-gamma in lesions of human oral lichen planus].

OBJECTIVE

To understand the possible role of signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in the generation of local lesions of oral lichen planus (OLP).

METHODS

Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues of 10 cases of normal oral epithelium and 48 cases of OLP were investigated for STAT1 and IFN-gamma proteins by using immunohistochemistry SABC method. The correlation between the expression of STAT1 and IFN-gamma proteins and the clinical and pathological characteristics in OLP were statistically analyzed.

RESULTS

(1) STAT1 and IFN-gamma were over expressed compared with healthy oral mucosa (P < 0.05). (2) The percentage of STAT1 over-expression in OLP with positive IFN-gamma staining was significantly higher than that in OLP with negative IFN-gamma staining (chi2 = 5.042, P < 0.05). A positive correlation between the over-expression of STAT1 and IFN-gamma was seen in OLP (r = 0.324, P < 0.05). (3) The percentage of over-expression of STAT1 in OLP with disease course less than 6 months was higher than that in OLP with disease course more than 6 months (chi2 = 5.077, P < 0.05), and a positive correlation was observed between the over-expression of IFN-gamma and the liquefaction of base cells in local lesions of OLP (r = -0.388, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The over-expression of STAT1 and IFN-gamma may participate in the generation of local pathological damnification of OLP at the early stage.