Apoptosis and PTX3 in lichen planus.

Introduction: Lichen planus (LP) is considered a T cell-mediated autoimmune disease although its aetiology remains unknown. Cytotoxic T cells play a central role in the pathogenesis of LP and these cells are known to significantly induce apoptosis in basal keratinocytes.

Aim: To correlate pentraxin 3 (PTX3) with apoptosis in basal cell keratinocytes in LP and to determine whether it is a marker in this disease.

Material and methods: Inclusion criteria were as follows: (i) providing written consent for participation, (ii) presence of typical clinical findings (livid-red, violaceous, flat-topped polygonal papules and plaques, fern appearance in the oral mucosa, flexural involvement, and Wickham's striae) and (iii) histopathological confirmation of LP.

Results: A total of 60 participants, 30 patients and 30 controls, were included in the study. No difference was found between groups in terms of age and gender. There was a significant difference in PTX3 levels between groups. As to patients with LP, 21 (70%) patients had skin involvement only, 2 (6.7%) patients had mucosal involvement only, and 7 (23.3%) patients had both skin and mucosal involvement of LP.

Conclusions: PTX3 may be associated with apoptosis in LP. Although there are no data on the usability of PTX3 as a specific marker of LP, the present study aimed to demonstrate its usability as a marker of active LP.