A new concept for the pathogenesis and treatment strategies for oral lichen planus

Mounting evidence points out to the immunologic basis of lichen planus (LP). Tumour necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) is a cytokine with multiple biologic activities, some of which may be relevant to the pathogenesis of LP. The present study was thus conducted to assess its production by peripheral blood leucocytes in patients with active lesions of oral lichen planus (OLP) compared to age matched healthy control volunteers. For the assessment, the quantitative immunometric sandwich technique was employed. Significantly greater amounts of TNF-alpha were found in serum samples of OLP patients compared to healthy individuals, suggesting a possible association between this cytokine and the pathogenesis of OLP and pointing out to the primary initiative role played by altered keratinocytes. This pointed out the beneficial effect of anti-TNF drugs in the management of OLP.