The expression of TNF-alpha and ICAM-1 in lesions of lichen planus and its implication.

In order to investigate the role of TNF-and ICAM-1 in the pathogenesis of lichen planus, immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of TNF-and ICAM-1 in skin lesions of the patients with lichen planus and skin tissues of normal subjects. The results showed that positive rates of TNF-alpha and ICAM-1 expressions in lichen planus were significantly higher than those in normal skins (both P<0.05). Meanwhile, there was a obvious correlation between the increase of TNF-alpha and that of ICAM-1 in lichen planus. The expression of TNF-alpha and ICAM-1 might play an important role in the development of lichen planus.