Molecular Markers in Oral Lichen Planus - Insight into Pathogenesis

The obtained results suggest that apoptosis may not be the dominant mechanism in the disease's pathogenesis. Decreased expression of p63 on the other hand appears to play an important role. Among the possible effects of this protein deficiency are activation of programmed cell death, cell cycle arrest, cellular senescence, or anoikis; suppression of cell proliferation or changes in cell differentiation. The observed reduction in p63, Ki67 and bcl-2 levels predisposes to epithelial thinning, erosions and/or ulcers. For the presented OLP cohort, there was no molecular evidence of increased malignant potential of the lesions.