| Abstract: | ![]()
The epidermal component of lichen planus seems to result from a continuous process of erosion of the basal zone, and repopulation of the ‘wounded’ area by cells from nearby uninvolved epidermis. In order to investigate these migrating cells further, we have studied tissue slices from forty papules of lichen planus derived from twenty-nine patients. The tissue slices were cultured for periods of 24 or 48 h. Marked migration of fusiform and spindle-shaped cells into the eroded dermo-epidermal zone appeared to have taken place. In general, the changes represented an exaggeration of those usually present in vivo. Cytochalasin B, in concentrations of 5 μg/ml or greater in the culture medium, prevented cell migration. This effect, and the fact that autoradiographic studies showed few cells to be synthesizing DNA, suggested that cell migration took place by movement rather than by mitotic activity. Lichen planus (LP) seems unusual in that, although there is destruction in the basal generative layer, there is at the same time epidermal thickening. A recent study by Marks, Black & Wilson Jones (1973) has produced evidence suggesting that kcratinocytes migrate into the LP lesion from nearby uninvolved epidermis, and then repopulate the damaged basal zone in an attempt at healing the ‘microwound’ due to the erosive LP process. We have tried to learn more about these epidermal changes, by studying in vitro tissue slices from LP papules. During this study we have made observations that we believe support the concept that the epidermal changes in LP are a mixture of continuous damage and of attempts at repopulation by migrating epidermal cells. |
