TENASCIN EXPRESSION IN MUCOCUTANEOUS DISEASES AND RELATED LESIONS OF HUMAN ORAL-MUCOSA

The expression of tenascin was assessed immunohistochemically. Tn norm al oral mucosa, immunoreactivity for tenascin was seen either as a del icate line underlining the epithelium or in the stromal papillae. In o ral lichen planus, a marked enhancement of tenascin immunoreactivity i n the lamina propria was associated with focal infiltrates of inflamma tory cells and seemed to reflect the intensity of inflammation. In lic henoid reactions in which only a sparse inflammatory infiltrate was pr esent a band-like tenascin reactivity was Seen. Oral psoriform reactio ns and chronic hyperplastic candidosis showed a prominent tenascin rea ction in the connective tissue papillae among infiltrates of inflammat ory cells. The results show that tenascin content is increased in oral mucocutaneous diseases and related lesions and that the abundance of tenascin reflects the intensity of the inflammatory reaction.