A study on morphology and distribution of mast cells in oral lichen planus / 华西口腔医学杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The aim of this study was to investigate the features of mast cell subtypes and relationship between mast cells and pathogenesis of oral lichen planus.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Mast cells in the tissue of oral lichen planus were stained with Alcian blue/safranine in order to demonstrate mature and immature mast cells, and the constituent ratio of these two subtypes was calculated. Afterwards, LUZEX-F image pattern analysis system was applied to demonstrate the size of these two subtypes and their morphological features.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The constituent ratio of mature and immature types of mast cells in the tissue of oral lichen planus was significantly different from that in the normal tissue (P < 0.01), and such difference was also demonstrated among different types of this malady, including papule-, net- and erosion-type of oral lichen planus (P < 0.05). There was significant difference between the sizes of mature and immature mast cells (P < 0.01) and also the sizes, amount and distribution of the plasma granules within these two mast cells.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>It could be implied that mast cells might play a role in the pathogenesis of oral lichen planus.</p>