IS THERE A ROLE FOR TUMOR-NECROSIS-FACTOR-ALPHA (TNF-ALPHA) IN ORAL LICHEN-PLANUS

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a T cell-mediated inflammatory disease of the oral mucosa. T lymphocytes accumulate within OLP lesions by extrav asation from the local microvasculature and subsequent migration to th e oral epithelium. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is a cytoki ne involved primarily in T cell-mediated immunopathological reactions, and it is implicated in diseases which bear clinical and histological similarities to OLP. This review examines the role of TNF-alpha in th e initiation and progression of OLP, and summarises evidence for a key role for TNF-alpha in this disease. A unifying hypothesis for the inv olvement of TNF-alpha in the immunopathogenesis of OLP is presented. B ased on this model, a variety of current therapies are explained and s everal alternative approaches suggested.