Langerhans cells and T cells in oral graft versus host disease and oral lichen planus

Chronic graft versus host disease (cGVHD) of the oral mucosa, following allogeneic stein cell transplantation, and oral lichen planus (OLP) are both mucosal diseases where the immune system is involved in the pathogenesis. Although the aetiology of the two conditions is different, they present with a similar clinical appearance. This study compares the two diseases regarding the distribution of cells, which are expressing cell surface markers of interest for inflammatory responses. Monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) were used in standard immunohistochemical procedures. CD1a+, CD80+ and CD86+ cells in the epithelium of OLP-and cGVHD lesions had the dendritic morphology of Langerhans cells (LC). Higher frequencies of CD1a+ LC as well as CD25+ cells were observed in the OLP epithelium than in the cGVHD epithelium. The OLP lesions showed higher frequencies of subepithelial cells expressing CD1a, CD86, CD4, CD8 and CD25 than the cGVHD lesions. Notably there was a significantly higher frequency of CD25+ cells in the epithelium and the connective tissue of OLP than in cGVHD. These cells might represent regulatory T cells. In conclusion, cGVHD and OLP show marked differences at the cellular level despite similar clinical appearance. Hence, the findings indicate differences in the regulation of the inflammatory response between the two conditions.