Gingival basement membrane antigens in desquamative lesions of the gingiva

Desquamative gingival lesions are a clinical manifestation of several entities where histologic alterations in the gingival basement membrane are frequent. Normal and lesional gingival specimens from six patients with desquamative lesions of the gingiva associated with cicatricial pemphigoid or lichen planus and from one normal subject were examined by indirect immunofluorescence for immunologic alterations in basement membrane antigens. In four out of five desquamative gingival lesions from patients with lichen planus, type IV collagen and EBA basement membrane antigens were interrupted, thickened, or partially or completely absent as compared to normal gingiva. One specimen showed multiplication and duplication of the basement membrane. In the two desquamative gingival lesions from patients with cicatricial pemphigoid, type IV collagen was either partially absent or associated with the connective tissue side of the subepithelial bullae. These results suggest structural alterations in antigens within the basement membrane of patients with desquamative lesions of the gingiva.