[Gene expression of epidermal growth factor and epidermal growth factor receptor in oral lichen planus].

OBJECTIVE

To explore the expression of epidermal growth factor (EGF), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), c-fos and c-jun in oral lichen planus (OLP).

METHODS

The levels of gene expression of EGF, EGFR, c-fos and c-jun were detected with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in 10 cases of erosive OLP, 12 cases of reticular OLP and 9 cases of normal oral mucosa. Protein contents and distribution of EGF, EGFR, C-fos and C-jun were examined with immunohistochemical technique in different tissues.

RESULTS

The endogenous levels of EGFR mRNA and protein in erosive OLP were (55.9 +/- 23.1)% and (71.1 +/- 10.1)%, respectively, and significantly higher than those in reticular OLP and normal oral mucosa. The mRNA contents of c-fos and c-jun were significantly higher in erosive OLP than in normal oral mucosa. The positive cell rates of c-fos and c-jun protein in erosive OLP were 1.3 and 1.5 times of those in normal oral mucosa, respectively (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The probability of carcinomatous change of erosive OLP might be higher than that of reticular OLP, in which EGF and EGFR might play an important role.