Autoantibodies to desmogleins 1 and 3 in patients with lichen planus

There is controversy about the role of autoantibodies against desmoglein 1 and 3 (Dsg1 and 3) in the pathogenesis of lichen planus (LP); the authors planned this study to determine the presence of circulating levels of these antibodies in patients with different types of oral LP and to compare that with cutaneous LP and healthy controls. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test was performed on serum samples of 24 cases of erosive oral LP, 29 cases of reticular oral LP, 30 cases of cutaneous LP and 30 healthy controls. The severity of oral LP was evaluated by Reticulation, Erosion and Ulceration scoring system. There were no significant differences in the concentrations of autoantibodies to Dsg1 between the four groups. Autoantibodies to Dsg3 were increased in erosive oral LP compared with healthy controls (p value = 0.005) but no increase was observed between other groups. We did not detect a correlation between the severity of the disease and the levels of anti-Dsg1 and 3 in patients with erosive and reticular types of oral LP. In conclusion, regardless of the increased level of anti-Dsg3 antibody in erosive oral LP, serum concentrations of antibodies were under cut-off values. Moreover, the pathogenic role of anti-Dsg3 antibodies in erosive oral LP is uncertain.