Apoptosis y liquen plano oral. Situación actual

Abstract

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a mucocutaneous inflammatory chronic disease, with unknown etiology, autoinmune, usually associated with characteristical oral manifestations. Despite it has a benign evolution, is posible to become malign. Lately, relation between the pathogenesis and apoptotic cells destroy has been investigated. Methods: A bibliography survey was carried out with th U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health (Pubmed) with the keywords "apoptosis AND oral lichen planus". Discussion: Several trials evaluate the relationship among several apoptotic markers (TNF-α, bcl-2, Fas, p53, BMP-4, granzyme B, MMP...) and OLP pathogenesis, evolution, clinic and malignization. These studies employed histology and immunohistochemistry (TUNEL, PCR) Conclusion: Lack of consensus on results and conclusions about the influence of each apoptotic marker in the OLP development. Further investigation is required to obtain an apoptotic marker strongly associated with aggressive clinic and high-risk of malignancy.