RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the expression of tight junction, its distribution pattern in oral lichen planus samples and its potential association with the severity of oral lichen planus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cross-sectional study designs were conducted. Transcriptome sequencing was conducted using oral mucosal tissues from 22 patients with oral lichen planus and 11 healthy controls. Immunohistochemistry and quantitative reverse transcription PCR were performed to verify the expression of claudin-1, claudin-4, occludin and zonula occludens-1 in oral mucosal tissues from another 30 patients with oral lichen planus and 26 healthy controls. The relationship between tight junction protein expression and oral lichen planus severity was explored using correlation analysis. RESULTS: 5603 and 2475 differentially expressed genes were upregulated and downregulated respectively, in oral lichen planus tissues. KEGG analysis showed that tight junctions including CLDN1, CLDN4, OCLN and TJP1 were downregulated in oral lichen planus. Claudin-1, claudin-4, occludin and zonula occludens-1 expression was verified to be significantly lower in oral lichen planus. Furthermore, correlation analyses showed that decreased occludin expression was positively related to oral lichen planus severity. CONCLUSION: Decreased expression of TJ barrier proteins may be associated with the development of oral lichen planus.
Assuntos
Líquen Plano Bucal , Mucosa Bucal , Proteínas de Junções Íntimas , Humanos , Líquen Plano Bucal/metabolismo , Líquen Plano Bucal/genética , Líquen Plano Bucal/patologia , Feminino , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Proteínas de Junções Íntimas/metabolismo , Proteínas de Junções Íntimas/análise , Proteínas de Junções Íntimas/genética , Mucosa Bucal/metabolismo , Mucosa Bucal/patologia , Estudos Transversais , Adulto , Ocludina/metabolismo , Estudos de Casos e Controles , Claudina-4/metabolismo , Claudina-4/genética , Claudina-1/metabolismo , Claudina-1/genética , Junções Íntimas/metabolismo , Índice de Gravidade de Doença , Proteína da Zônula de Oclusão-1/metabolismoRESUMO
Oral epithelial barrier consists of closely controlled structure of the stratified squamous epithelium, which is the gateway to human bodies and encounters a huge burden of microbial, airborne and dietary antigens, as well as masticatory damage. Once this barrier is destroyed, it will trigger bone loss, tissue damage and microbial dysbiosis and lead to diseases, such as periodontitis, oral mucosal diseases and oral cancer. Recently, increasing evidences showed that different factors including microorganism, saliva, proteins and immune components have been considered to play a critical role in the disruption of oral epithelial barrier. Herein, we discussed mechanisms governing the maintenance of oral epithelial barrier. Besides, the role of oral epithelial barrier failure in oral carcinogenesis will also be talked about.