Serum levels of adhesion molecules in lichen planus and the effect of associated hepatitis C virus

الملخص EN

Immunological mechanisms have been suggested to be fundamental in the initiation and perpetuation of lichen planus (LP).

Adhesion molecules such as ICAM-1, VCAM-I and E-selectin, play an important role in immune cell interaction.

LP has recently been observed to occur with increased frequency in patients with hepatitis C virus.

So the aim of this work is to measure serum levels of ICAM-1, VCAM-I and E-selectin in LP patients and to compare the levels of these adhesion molecules in LP patients associated with and without HCV.

Serum levels of slCAM-1, sVCAM-1 andsE-selectin were measured by ELISA in 48 LP patients (38 classic and 10 actinic) and 24 healthy controls.

Both patients and controls were screened for hepatitis C virus antibodies by ELISA technique.

Serum levels of sICAM-1, sVCAM-1 and sE-selectin were significantly higher in LP patients compared to controls (P< 0.05, 0.01 and 0.001 respectively).

Only sE-selectin was significantly higher in actinic patients compared to patients with classical LP(P< 0.05).

There were no significant difference in the studied parameters between patients with and without mucus membrane affection.

Hepatitis C associated LP patients (15=31%) had significantly higher levels of sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 compared to hepatitis C negative patients (P < 0.001 and 0.05 respectively).

No significant difference in the levels ofsE-selectin was found between the two groups.

Adhesion molecules, may play an important role in the pathogenesis of lichen planus, with a distinct role of hepatitis C virus on ICAM-l.