Synonyms
Lichen ruber; Lichen ruber planus; Lichen planopilaris
Definition and Characteristics
Lichen planus (LP) is a chronic, inflammatory mucocutaneous disease of unknown etiology.
Prevalence
LP is one of the most common inflammatory dermatoses with a prevalence in the general population of approximately 0.5–1%.
Molecular and Systemic Pathophysiology
There is a growing acceptance that LP presents a cellular autoimmune response directed against epidermal antigens [1–2]. The inflammatory infiltrate consists primarily of T cells both of the CD8+ and the CD4+ phenotype and macrophages. A current hypothesis for the immunopathogenisis of oral LP includes the following molecular and cellular mechanisms [2]: Activation of basal keratinocytes and epidermal antigen presenting cells by viral infections (e.g., hepatitis C [3]) or other stressors triggers antigen presentation and secretion of chemokines (e.g., CCL5) that attract lymphocytes into the developing LP lesion. Mast cells and their...
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References
Wilson E (1869) J Cut Med 3:117–132
Lodi G, Scully C, Carrozzo M, Griffiths M, Sugerman PB, Thongprasom K (2005) Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 100:40–51
Cribier B, Samain F, Vetter D, Heid E, Grosshans E (1998) Acta Derm Venereol 78:355–357
Sugerman PB, Satterwhite K, Bigby M (2000) Br J Dermatol 142:449–456
Wickham LF (1895) Annls Derm Syph Paris 6:517–520
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Ehrchen, J., Beissert, S. (2009). Lichen Planus. In: Lang, F. (eds) Encyclopedia of Molecular Mechanisms of Disease. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-29676-8_1043
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-29676-8_1043
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-67136-7
Online ISBN: 978-3-540-29676-8
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